The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is engulfed in more palaver as chairman in Edo State, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi’s younger brother, Mr. Clem Aziegbemi has quit the party.
Citing the massive defection of members from the PDP, which he insisted is largely due to the conquest attitude of the party leadership that lacks inclusivity of members into appointment, Mr. Aziegbemi, a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Godwin Obaseki wrote that he was tabling his immediate resignation from the party.
In a letter dated Thursday, May 30 and addressed to the party’s Ward 5 chairman in Esan South East Local Government Area, he bitterly complained that party loyalists, who worked for it were abandoned for new entrants, adding that old PDP members, which he belonged had suffered a great deal in the hands of the party leadership and those in government.
The latest resignation comes on the heels of the recent dumping of the PDP by the former Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Frank Okiye, former member of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Charles “Charlie Temple” Idahosa, eight former local government areas chairmen, and a host of others, who have since pitched tent with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Also, a former PDP Woman Leader recently resigned from the party while close sources confided that former Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Prince Kabiru Adjoto from Akoko Edo Local Government Area is at the threshold of quitting the PDP and re-joining the APC, which he left with Governor Obaseki during the run up to the 2020 governorship election in Edo.
The Edo PDP chairman’s kinsman further accused Governor Obaseki and Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the party’s governorsip candidate in the September 21 election of failing to address these issues which are begging for attention.
The ex-aide to the Edo State governor dolefully predicted that with the persistence of the ugly development, it will be very difficult for the party to win any of the 18 local government areas in Edo State, come September 21.
Though silent on his next move, a close source however disclosed that preparations are in top gear to receive Mr. Aziegbemi into APC by the Ward 5 chairman of the ruling party in Esan South East Local Government Area.
Mr. Aziegbemi added: “Another disturbing issue is the seeming hijack of the PDP Governorship candidate by a gang of political jobbers, as against those of us who laboured for him to emerge as candidate of the party.”
“Kindly consider this as my resignation from every party responsibility, including my position as one of the spokepersons to the governorship candidate. Also, this serves as a formal resignation as a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency Godwin Obaseki.”