Edo PDP Crisis: Party Moves Against Obaseki, Shaibu’s Loyalists

• Embattled members say order of no consequence, await Gov’s directives 

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – The intractable crisis rocking the Edo State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took another dramatic turn on Monday evening as the party in Ward 2, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State slammed an indefinite suspension on 10 of its members for alleged anti-party activities.

In moving against the members tagged as loyalists of Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu, the Party accused them of disobedience to constituted authority and willfully refusing heed lawful directives of PDP ‘s officers and its various organs.

The list of those allegedly suspended contained mainly names of members who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP with Governor Obaseki and Shaibu on the eve of last year’s gubernatorial election in the South-South state.

The letter, announcing the members suspension, was signed by the Ward Chairman, Suileman Momodu, Secretary, Elamah Abdulganinu and 17 others.

In the said letter, the Party listed their offences to include; “Breaching of the party constitution and manifesto, disobedience and neglect to carryout lawful directive of the party organ and officers of the party;

“Engaging in anti-party activities, engagement in a conduct likely to cause disaffection among members of the party and is likely to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of the business of the Party.”

The suspended members were also accused of “Engaging in unauthorised publicity within the party; creating a parallel organ at the ward LGA level; and promoting actions that belong to another group under the guise of the party by name, New PDP.”

The Ward chairman, Momodu said there is no going back on their decision because the action was taken in line with the party’s constitution.

Meanwhile, some of those allegedly suspended refused enquiries about their reaction to the announcing in what a competent source described as “waiting for the governor’s directives on the matter.”

And one of them, who preferred anonymity for now in order not to preempt the governor’s next line of action, described the alleged suspension as being of no consequence.