By Newsmata
As the battle for the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State got messier following Wednesday’s donation of a new secretariat to the beleaguered party by the National Vice Chairman, South South, Chief Dan Osi Orbih, and a strong message to the Dr. Tony Azeigbemi-led Caretaker Committee to stay away, the latter fired back on Thursday disowning Orbih, declaring that apart from no longer being a member of the party, his tenure officially ended on March 9, 2025.
Aziegbemi said Chief Emma Ogidi now leads a caretaker committee for the zone.
Newsmata reports that Orbih claimed he was donating the secretariat because the state PDP had become homeless since the caretake committee chairman was thrown out of its erstwhile accommodation along Airport Road by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) which claimed ownership of the secretariat.
In a statement he personally signed, Azeigbemi described Orbih’s action as “Nollywood-style theatrics”.
According to him, “Let it be made abundantly clear: Chief Dan Orbih is no longer a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He lacks the authority and standing to rent, donate, or assign any property to the Edo PDP. The so-called secretariat he claims to have donated is a facade—it belongs to the party he now openly serves, the All Progressives Congress (APC) government in Edo State, where he is nothing more than a political employee.
“Chief Orbih’s tenure as the South-South Zonal Chairman of the PDP officially ended on March 9, 2025. A duly constituted Caretaker Committee, ably led by Chief Emma Ogidi, has since taken over the affairs of the zone.
“It is evident that Chief Orbih’s latest drama is a desperate attempt to distract, disrupt, and destabilize the Edo PDP. His record of notoriety is well documented, and as such, we refuse to dignify his antics with undue attention.
“We urge PDP members to disregard the antics of Dan Orbih and not be distracted. Reclaiming our mandate remains our focus.
“The Edo PDP Caretaker Committee remains united, focused, and fully in charge of the party’s affairs.”