Discipline is indeed a fundamental requirement for the smooth and efficient management of any organization and most certainly for a political party. Chapter 10 of the PDP constitution prescribes the details of implementing this requirement in our party. For some time now, there has been a proliferation of actions across various levels of our party, throughout the country, which have been actions of gross indiscipline. These actions have contributed in no small measure to the misfortune of our party at various levels. The media is full, of unfavorable comments, all about gross indiscipline perpetrated by virtually all categories of our membership. Everyone knows that our fundamental problem in the 2023 General Election was absolute indiscipline.
 
I recall that after the shocking and inexcusable defeat of the PDP in the 2015 General Elections, in consideration of how best to rebrand itself to be in proper quest for power in the future, it was obvious to all, that Party discipline was to be restored to all levels of the party without exception. I believe that was why in August 2017 a National Disciplinary Committee of seven members was inaugurated. That number was by the provisions of our constitution and the seven members chosen were of the highest caliber. I have had the privilege of being the Chairman of the committee since then. The other members are:      

Chief Onyeama Ugochukwu CON
Rt Hon. Austin Opara
Late Barr Victor Kwon
Col Balance Mande (RTD)
Hadjia Inna Ciroma
Barr. Eyitayo Jegede SAN (member secretary)          

May I use this opportunity to express my profound thanks to all these members of the committee, for their wonderful cooperation and dedication to all our tasks. The disciplinary committee can only operate as directed by the NWC. All matters that were referred to the committee since its inauguration were promptly attended to. I was aware of so many matters, freely discussed in the public domain but they were never referred to the committee.
 
Today, our country is in dire straights. We just experienced a nationwide Protest which tells the story of where we are. Those of us who in 2014 played vital roles in the creation of an alternative powerful party succeeded in creating the APC which gave the PDP necessary competition. It is now clear to all that a change is now necessary. The PDP must put its act together and claim back power again as the true and reliable alternative. There is no need really for the creation of any new political parties. The establishment of these two committees, the Reconciliation Committee and the Disciplinary Committee is fundamental for the proper restructuring of our party. This must not be just a show, at the end of which we all walk away and go to sleep.
 
With regards to the Disciplinary Committee, if indeed we are within the accurate implementation of the constitution with regards to the number of members, I assess that we have put together, quite a distinguished selection across the country for its membership. I hope that all those selected and inaugurated today have come fully committed with loyalty to the party to face the task before us squarely. Certainly, this is not the platform to represent any individual or factional interest. There is no question that if there are members of the committee with any matters against them, they will without doubt also face the committee.
 
Mr Chairman, We need a detailed terms of reference and a well-established work procedure. I hope the necessary support will be worked out to enable this rather large committee to perform successfully.
 
Let me express my thanks on behalf of all the members of the Disciplinary Committee to our National Chairman and all the members of the NWC for finding us worthy to be members of this very important committee. We look forward to a very harmonious working relationship all in the best interest of our Party and our country.

High Chief Tom Ikimi CON
Oduma of Esanland

We, elders and critical leaders of PDP in Edo State, having become aware of some political disagreements within the membership of our great party in Edo State, consider it urgent that all groups sheath their swords and respect Party leadership intervention at the highest level. We have been disturbed by the recent open con­frontations between H.E. Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and our Governor, H.E. Godwin Obaseki of Edo State. It is abso­lutely necessary for us to bring all this to an end immediately and ensure the smooth operation of a united South-Southern block of PDP states.

We recall that sometime in 2020, we the elders and critical lead­ers of Edo State met in Abuja and Benin City and proposed a plan of uniting the vast majority of Edo people into one party – the PDP to ensure our party wins the governorship election and takes over power in Edo State; power which had eluded our party for over twelve years before then. We therefore approached the National Chairman and National Working Committee of our party with our plans. Central to our plan was our invitation to Governor Godwin Obaseki, then of APC, to contest the 2020 Governorship election under PDP. We considered this a realistic approach as we did not want to run the risk of another four years in the opposition in Edo State. The Party leadership found our proposal very workable.

At the point of our approach to Governor Godwin Obaseki, which coincided with the Edo State APC crisis at the time, time was really running out. We were however aware that there were oth­er interested PDP aspirants in Edo State and unfortunately one of them approached the court and obtained a restraining order to frustrate our efforts. This was most unfortunate but we must most sincerely thank the Governors of our Party, led by HE Gov­ernor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, the Chairman of PDP Governors Forum and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, the Chairman of the South-South PDP Governors forum who led their colleagues to Rivers State undertaking risky road night journeys and they secured a settlement that made it possible for the court case to be withdrawn and for all the other aspirants to step down.

At the Extraordinary meeting of leaders of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo Central Senatorial District held today, the 13th of August 2023 at Igueben, the topical issues affecting the Party in the State were reviewed in depth.

The meeting noted with satisfaction, the speedy and effective progress being made on the peace and reconciliation efforts to unite the contending forces within the Party, particularly in Esanland.

However, the deteriorating relationship between our Governor, His Excellency Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy Rt Hon Philip Shaibu, was noted with utmost dismay.

It is the collective view of the entire leadership of PDP in Edo Central that the controversy was unnecessary and avoidable, considering that the central issue of contention is to do with issue of Governorship succession at the end of the current tenure.

The reason for this is our strong belief that the strongest consideration for making the choice is Equity in addition to other factors related to competence and individual acceptability. From our interactions with our brothers from Edo South and Edo North, there is already a consensus that the next Governor will emanate from Edo Central Senatorial District principally because it is on record that Edo Central has not legally produced a Governor for our dear State since the inception of this democratic dispensation in 1999.

Besides, we believe that the process of making such a choice can be achieved by the leadership of the Party in a cordial and reasonable atmosphere rather than resort to intimidation and blackmail. Moreover, we condemn in very strong terms, the act of resorting to Court without exhausting the options provided in our Party Constitution for dispute settlement. In any case, the Governor has confirmed that he made no move to impeach his Deputy and we believe him.

We therefore urge the Deputy Governor to withdraw his suit forthwith and seek a political solution to the problem with his Principal. We are confident that the leadership of the Party in the State have the capacity to resolve whatever may be the issues between our leaders in Government.

Finally, his Excellency Governor Godwin Obaseki has expressed his firm resolve and determination to finish well and strong; we hereby identify with him in that resolution because we believe that nothing short of that will augur well for us, the Party and our dear State. We therefore urge all men and women of goodwill to join hands with his Excellency to ensure success to make Edo great again.

At the end of the Extraordinary meeting of leaders of PDP in Edo Central Senatorial District, a Vote of implicit Confidence in the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki was moved by Chief Francis Ulinfun and seconded by Elder Johnny Abhulimen. The motion was unanimously passed by all the leaders in attendance on behalf of the Party in Esanland.

We, elders and critical leaders of PDP in Edo State, having become aware of some political disagreements within the membership of our great party in Edo State, consider it urgent that all groups sheath their swords and respect Party leadership intervention at the highest level. We have been disturbed by the recent open con­frontations between H.E. Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and our Governor, H.E. Godwin Obaseki of Edo State. It is abso­lutely necessary for us to bring all this to an end immediately and ensure the smooth operation of a united South-Southern block of PDP states.

We recall that sometime in 2020, we the elders and critical lead­ers of Edo State met in Abuja and Benin City and proposed a plan of uniting the vast majority of Edo people into one party – the PDP to ensure our party wins the governorship election and takes over power in Edo State; power which had eluded our party for over twelve years before then. We therefore approached the National Chairman and National Working Committee of our party with our plans. Central to our plan was our invitation to Governor Godwin Obaseki, then of APC, to contest the 2020 Governorship election under PDP. We considered this a realistic approach as we did not want to run the risk of another four years in the opposition in Edo State. The Party leadership found our proposal very workable.

At the point of our approach to Governor Godwin Obaseki, which coincided with the Edo State APC crisis at the time, time was really running out. We were however aware that there were oth­er interested PDP aspirants in Edo State and unfortunately one of them approached the court and obtained a restraining order to frustrate our efforts. This was most unfortunate but we must most sincerely thank the Governors of our Party, led by HE Gov­ernor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, the Chairman of PDP Governors Forum and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, the Chairman of the South-South PDP Governors forum who led their colleagues to Rivers State undertaking risky road night journeys and they secured a settlement that made it possible for the court case to be withdrawn and for all the other aspirants to step down.

It is true that HE Governor Nyesom Wike embraced our can­didate Governor Godwin Obaseki and in his well-known man­ner, became a leading force in our joint commitment to ensure unlimited efforts to our achieving our mission to win Govern­ment House, Benin City. Indeed, he came to Benin a few days before the election and took in his stride the humiliation of being blocked in his hotel by the APC security people.

However, that notwithstanding, the force of his presence in Edo State reverberated across the whole State.

In the end, we won the election landslide. It was indeed a com­mendable act by HE Governor Godwin Obaseki to make it a point of duty to visit his brother Governors in Sokoto, Rivers, Akwa Thom, Bayelsa, Delta, Bauchi, etc., immediately after his victory to express his appreciation to his brothers and colleagues.

The movement of Governors, Senators and other elected mem­bers from one party to the other is not new and, in the PDP, the process always included the harmonisation of structures. It is un­fortunate that because of the very tight time frame this was not done before the elections. It has become an issue of serious inter­est today because we won the election which has created diverse opportunities. It should be noted that this was an election won virtually landslide. It made true our calculations for bringing in

Governor Godwin Obaseki who arrived with a great and power­ful following including most of the APC State Executive, all the members of the State House of Assembly – PDP had none, all the elected Local Government Chairmen – PDP had none, and so many others. The need to harmonise and integrate was inevita­ble. There is no PDP Governor who is not in control of the party structure of his State and Edo State should not be different.

We have not been privy to the details of the negotiations that took place in Port Harcourt but one of the outcomes was the stepping down of the South-South Party National Vice-Chair­man, Hon. Emma Ogidi of Delta State and the position given for immediate occupation to Chief Dan Orbih who had just fin­ished an unbroken over twelve years tenure as PDP State Chair­man of Edo State. The comments made by Governor Godwin Obaseki regarding his relationship with the new South-South Vice Chairman gives cause for concern.

In a very short time, HE Godwin Obaseki has been able to actu­alise an electronic registration of PDP Party membership in Edo State that today is in excess of 540,000 members. If this member­ship, which is still growing and should be encouraged is carefully managed, the landslide winning of elections by PDP in Edo State would be permanently guaranteed. Our commitment must be to continue to expand the frontiers of our party, increase its mem­bership and ensure that all new members are integrated.

Many of us attended the ceremonies welcoming our new National Chairman, Senator lyorchia Ayu to Edo State last Thursday, 10th March, 2022 and particularly at the rally were the Deputy Gov­ernor of Edo State Rt Hon Philip Shaibu was one of the many speakers. He spoke openly and not in private. His mode of speak­ing was, as acknowledged by the National Chairman, in line with the attitude of our bustling energetic Youth population.

Governor assured him all would be well. We all rode together in the same bus to other events of the day. It is important to clari­fy here that we have always considered the Governor and Deputy Governor as a single ticket and it is our pleasure that there is no crack between Governor Godwin Obaseki and Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu.

Once again, we appeal to all concerned to sheath their swords and to allow for the peaceful resolution of all matters by the highest authority of our party as was recently promised by our National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu. We are assured that there will be fairness, equity and justice which should guarantee a complete bonding of all our members in Edo State as we prepare to select our candidates for the upcoming general elections.