By Ogochukwu Isioma
The Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed a statement jointly signed by its factional State Chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, and factional State Secretary, Mr. Duke Tenebe, that the PDP State Congresses scheduled to hold on Sunday, 5th October, 2025, in Benin City should be disregarded.
In a strongly worded statement signed by Bob-Manuel Umoru, Publicity Secretary of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, he dismissed their claims as “misleading, self-serving, and a distraction.” The party reaffirmed that its State Congress will hold as scheduled on October 5.
The PDP accused the duo of acting out of frustration and desperation after losing relevance within the party structure.
“Ordinarily, we would have ignored such baseless and self-serving comments, but for the sake of clarity and to keep our members and the public properly informed, it has become necessary to set the record straight,” the statement read.
The party alleged that Aziegbemi and Tenebe’s recent actions were motivated by personal interests rather than party loyalty.
“It is on record that both Dr. Tony Aziegbemi and Mr. Duke Tenebe acted on their own volition, driven by frustration and greed, having lost relevance within the party and cut off from the illicit financial pipeline of their benefactor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, who has since gone on self-exile even before the expiration of his second term as Governor of Edo State,” the party alleged.
The statement further described their recent attempt to discredit the congress as “laughable,” recalling that they had earlier sought validation for their own parallel exercise.
“It is worth recalling that these same individuals who now claim that the forthcoming Congress is a factional exercise, were only a few days ago in the residence of Chief Dan Osi Orbih, pleading and begging for his support to validate their illegal and parallel congress. Their sudden turnaround is nothing short of laughable and a clear manifestation of political inconsistency and moral bankruptcy,” the statement added.
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The party’s response comes on the heels of a “disclaimer” issued on October 2, 2025, and signed by Aziegbemi and Tenebe. In that statement, the factional state executives claimed that the PDP had already concluded its congresses—including the State Congress—on September 27, 2025, under the supervision of the National Working Committee (NWC) and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
They described the congress planned for October 5 as “illegal” and warned members to steer clear, alleging that Chief Dan Orbih, National Vice Chairman (South-South) of the PDP and some party members were plotting to hold a parallel exercise “contrary to the constitution of the PDP.”
Reacting, the PDP Caretaker Committee stressed that the authentic State Congress will proceed as scheduled, adding that the party remains united and constitutionally guided.
“The Edo PDP leadership and members across the 18 local government areas remain resolute, focused, and united under the constitutionally recognized structure of our great party,” the statement affirmed.
The party also called on members, delegates, and stakeholders to disregard the “sponsored falsehood” being peddled by the former officials and to participate peacefully in the congress.
“We therefore call on all party faithful, stakeholders, and the general public to disregard the sponsored falsehood being circulated by these frustrated elements. The Edo State PDP Congress to elect new members of the State Working Committee (SWC) will hold as scheduled on Sunday, 5th October 2025, in Benin City, Edo State,” it said.
“We invite all delegates, observers, and stakeholders to participate peacefully as we take yet another step toward strengthening the PDP and restoring the people’s confidence in internal democracy.”
