Osunbor, Anenih factions differ on Edo PDP congresses

Uchechukwu Olisah, Benin City - 11.03.2008

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State are making conflicting claims over the status of the 28 February 2008 parallel congresses of the party in the state.

The claims were over whether or not the congresses, which led to the emergence of Chief Dan Orbih and Mr. Edward Sadoh parallel as chairmen of the party in the state had been cancelled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the national secretariat of the party.

While members of the party loyal to the Chief Tony Anenih-backed Dan Orbih executive of the party said the congresses had been cancelled, supporters of the Governor Oserheimen Osunbor-backed Edward Sadoh executive insisted on the results of the congress which produced Sadoh as chairman remained.

A statement issued on Monday by the Publicity Secretary of the Sadoh-led executive, Dr. Francis Iyasere, stated that all the delegates elected in the congress where Sadoh emerged as chairman were all accredited for last Saturday national convention of the party in Abjua, just as the election of Sadoh was upheld by the national leadership of the PDP.