The Secretary of the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party, Hilary Otsu, has said that the absence of true reconciliation in the party may be the reason Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama is considering a move to the All Progressives Congress.
Ogbeide-Ihama, a two-time House of Representatives member under the PDP, was on Tuesday tipped to become the running mate to the APC governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo.
It was gathered later that top leaders of the APC and the PDP particularly members of the Legacy Group in Edo State loyal to the PDP Vice Chairman, South-South, Chief Dan Orbih and some other leaders like the Minister of the FCT, Nyesome Wike, were meeting at the Abuja residence of the leader of the APC in Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, to finalise the move.
However, the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Peter Uwadiae, on Tuesday denied that such a move was going on.
He said, “There is no truth in that. Ogbeide-Ihama is in the PDP, how can a PDP man be the running mate to our governorship candidate? We don’t even need to react to that because he is not a member of our party. As of today, Ogbeide-Ihama is in PDP until a person is a member of APC, he cannot be talking about being a running mate, we are not looking beyond our party to get a running mate for our candidate.”
Speaking further, Otsu said politics is based on personal and collective interest and no one can stop Ogbeide-Ihama from making his choice.
He said, “Politics is about who gets what, when, why, how and that is based on personal or collective interest. If Ogbeide-ihama feels it politically good to become a running mate to Okpebholo, it is within his right and the party cannot stop him. It is an individual decision and if any member of the party or group decides to align with him, it there choice.
“But you see, the reason why this is coming up if it is true, is that there seems to be no end to the disequilibrium that Governor Godwin Obaseki has instituted in the PDP. After all the stress we have been through in congresses and primaries, there were moves to find a way to align the party. Even the candidate, Asue Ighodalo made a move in that direction.
“But if nothing is being done positively in reuniting the party with the Legacy Group and others, then you cannot blame any member of the party for any decision taken and a disunited PDP cannot with the governorship election in the state.
“It is not good for any party to lose an individual, not to talk of a two-time House of Representatives member. It is not good for the party but it is happening because there seems to be no end in sight for true reconciliation.
“By Thursday, the tenure of the PDP exco in the state comes to an end and the National Working Committee of the party as regards the way forward, has not said anything,” he added.
When contacted Ogbeide-Ihama promised to call the reporter back which he didn’t do as at the time of filling the report. He also did not take several calls to his phone thereafter.
