EDO 2016: Trouble for the PDP; Edebiri, Guber aspirant dumps party

By Onitsha Shedrack,

This may not the best of time for  the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State as Mr. Solomon Edebiri, one of governorship aspirant in the June 20 party primaries, said  on Thursday in Obayanton, near Benin that he had resigned from the party.

He stated that his decision to leave the party was the act of “dishonesty of the party leadership’’. Noting that what happened on June 20 was awful and a complete negation of what democratic tenet is all about.

“I can officially tell you that I have resigned my membership of the PDP and that I have also refused to join either the Sherrif faction or any other party.

“My resignation followed the dishonesty of the party leadership who reneged on its pledge to provide a level-playing field for all aspirants at the primaries.

“And we had all also pledged to move with the party beyond the primaries, provided the primaries was free, fair and just.

“There were reports that the party’s institution gave a specific instruction to party chairmen at the Local government level for members to vote for a particular aspirant, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

 

“So my understanding is that the primaries was not free, fair and just,’’ he said

“I will not hold Ize-Iyamu (responsible) but the party leadership. And I neither want to fight anyone nor remain in the party,’’ he said.

Edebiri also confirmed that the party’s former BOT Chairman, Tony Anenih, reached out to him. “I refused to honour the invitation to his Abuja residence because of what happened in 2012.

“In 2012, he offered me money to dump my aspiration and join the PDP but I declined.

“In 2016, he still referred to that episode, accusing me of joining forces with Adams Oshiomhole to fight the party.

“Not knowing what he might also say after meeting with him and to keep my sanctity and integrity, I thought the best decision was to avoid meeting with him or any other leader of the party,’’ he said.

Edebiri, however, said that he would continue to serve the people of the state in other capacity through other foundations he had established to serve humanity.

“I have also told my supporters and follower to avoid money politics and eschew violence as no aspiration is worth innocent blood, ‘’ he said.

Edebiri contested the governorship seat in 2012 on the platform of the defunct ANPP and came third.

He joined the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) after he lost the 2012 governorship ticket and was a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), before he pitched tent with the PDP in 2014. (NAN)