Ahead of the 21 September 2024 governorship election in Edo, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has unveiled a 200-man campaign council to deliver the party’s candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo at the election.

Edo PDP Organizing Secretary, Tony Anenih (Jnr.) who disclosed this in a statement Thursday evening, said members of the campaign council are versatile members of the party and have been carefully chosen.

He noted that the campaign structure has an advisory council to be headed by Governor Godwin Obaseki; a management committee; a state campaign council made up of 200 eminent members; the women wing to be co-chaired by the State First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki and Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo, and the youth wing to be led by the deputy national youth leader, Timothy Osadolor.

Anenih further explained that the selection process was carried out under the direct supervision of the leaders of the party headed by Governor Obaseki.

He said: “I do not have any doubt whatsoever in my mind, that this group of very versatile members of the PDP that have been carefully chosen will deliver our erudite, intellectually sound and broad-minded candidate, Dr. Asuerinme Ighodalo.”

Anenih Jnr congratulated all members of the campaign council, even as he remained the that the party hopes and expects them to hit the ground running immediately.

The Forum of All Progressives Congress State Chairmen, on Tuesday, passed a vote of confidence on the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.

The delegation of 37 state chairmen gave the endorsement during a solidarity visit to the secretariat of the party in Abuja.

The embattled national chairman opened up on his purported suspension by his ward in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State, saying the drama looked like a flick from the popular entertainment channel, Africa Magic.

Theheute last week reported how the ward’s Legal Adviser, Haladu Gwanjo, led some party leaders to pronounce the former Kano governor’s suspension.

Gwanjo, who hinged the purported suspension on the alleged bribery case brought against Ganduje and his wife, said the decision was taken by nine executive members of the APC ward.

In a twist, however, Gwanjo and other executive members in Ganduje Ward in Dawakin Tofa Ward Local Government visited Ganduje in Abuja, alleging that impostors carried out the suspension move.

The purported suspension move was quickly followed up with a Kano High Court order on Wednesday, restraining Ganduje from parading himself as the APC national chairman.

Despite spirited efforts to abort the move by the Kano APC, which immediately suspended the ward executive members for their roles, the new court injunction proved to be a stumbling block.

The court order was, however, put on hold when the embattled national chairman secured another injunction from the Federal High Court presided over by Justice A.M. Liman.

The ruling was given after Ganduje filed an ex parte motion, seeking to enforce his fundamental right to a fair hearing.

Addressing the audience on Tuesday, the acting chairman of the forum and Lagos APC chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, said they were solidly behind Ganduje and would defend him against external aggression.

He said, “We are here this afternoon on just one mission. Chairman, we are here to let you know that you’re the captain of the ship.

“We are here to let you know that we are also your foot soldiers in the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and FCT.

“We are here to show our solidarity and sincere commitment to appreciate what members of the National Working Committee have been doing in standing by you, by giving you total support.

“We feel it’s important that the act of that solidarity should not be limited to members of the NWC alone. Today, we bring the solidarities from the 36 states of the federation, including FCT, to tell members of the public through the media that we’re solidly behind you.

“You have started the journey, a journey of growing our party, a journey of expanding our party, a journey of restructuring our party and a journey of making our party the one all will love. And we’re pretty sure that you’re on course.

“You kept on briefing us on every step you are taking and from what we have seen, they (alleged impostors) are not even members of our party. They are coming to derail the process of progression we are witnessing in our party. It is not in our dictionary.

“Mr Chairman, on behalf of my colleagues, I want to thank you for providing leadership and God Almighty will continue to be with you.”

Appreciating the gesture, the APC national chairman fingered the New Nigeria People’s Party and Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, as the brain behind his purported suspension.

According to Ganduje, the whole drama looked like ‘African magic’ to him.

The immediate past Governor of Imo State, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha has resigned his membership from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Ihedioha announced his resignation in a letter signed and dated 23th April, 2024, and sent to the PDP chairman of his ward in Mbutu, Aboh Mbaise.

Ihedioha who is also a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives said he decided to leave PDP because “the party has taken on a path that is at variance with my personal beliefs.”

He added that PDP longer “carry out internal reforms, enforce its own rules or offer credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress.”

His letter reads:

“Since 1998, I have contributed my quota to the development and transformation of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as one of the founding members. All these years, I have taken pride in the fact that the PDP is a party that will always look inward for internal reforms and provide credible leadership for the people, whether in power or outside power. I have had the benefit of serving and benefitting from the party at various levels.

“Regrettably, in recent times, the party has taken on a path that is at variance with my personal beliefs. Despite my attempt to offer counsel, the party is, sadly no longer able to carry out internal reforms, enforce its own rules or offer credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

“It is in the light of the foregoing, that I am compelled to offer my resignation from the People’s Democratic Party effective immediately. While this decision was difficult to take, I, however, believe that it is the right one. Despite this resignation, I will always be available to offer my services towards the deepening of democracy and good governance in Nigeria”