December 18, (THEWILL) – Ahead of the September 21, 2024, gubernatorial election in Edo State, various stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including governorship aspirants and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Party, have ruled out zoning.
The Stakeholders meeting held on Thursday, December 14, at the PDP National Secretariat in Wadata Plaza, Abuja, was presided over by the acting National Chairman, Ambassador Damagun.
The decision followed the NWC resolution after listening to petitions against the State Party Chairman, Tony Aiziegbemi.
The petitioners had alleged that Aiziegbemi was partisan in his role by marketing Asue Ighodalo, a supposed anointed aspirant of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, referenced the video recording where Aiziegbemi was seen openly campaigning for Ighodalo in Edo Central.
The leaders present at the meeting also alleged that Aziegbemi tampered with the membership register of the party.
All the stakeholders present at the meeting, including the Deputy Governor of Edo State, unanimously agreed that Aiziegbemi had lost the trust of members and other aspirants.
They demanded a free, fair and transparent primary and denounced zoning to any preferred Senatorial District.
In his remark, Ighodalo said he was in agreement with “everything that was said at the meeting”, and promised to abide by it.
On his part, Ogbeide-Ihama reminded the NWC members of the role they played in the agreement that brought incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki as PDP candidate in 2020 and pleaded with them to abide by that agreement as a permanent solution to the crisis facing the party in Edo State.
The leaders agreed to the suggestion by the acting National Chairman to emplace a small committee to finalise the decisions that were taken at the meeting.
Earlier, Obaseki pleaded with the stakeholders that he was ready to “do everything to ensure that PDP remains in Edo Government House.”
Aiziegbemi also asked for forgiveness for the role he had played in the crisis confronting the party.
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