The leadership of the Oredo Local Government chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is divided over the expulsion of a former House of Representatives member, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama.
It was reported that the Ward 2 chairman of the party in the locality, Lawrence Aguebor, had at a meeting on Tuesday in Benin city announced the expulsion of the former National Assembly lawmaker from the party.
Aguebor said Ogbeide-Ihama was earlier suspended by the Ward executives and critical stakeholders on May 3, 2024, for failing to answer questions concerning allegations levelled against him.
But in a twist, the chairman of the party in Oredo LGA, Oduwa Igbinosun described the purported expulsion of the former lawmaker by Lawrence Aguebor and his group as null and void.
Igbinosun disclosed this to newsmen on Wednesday, after an emergency executive meeting of the party in Benin City.
According to him, the attention of the local government EXCO was drawn to the purported expulsion of Ogbeide-Ihama by a faceless group led by one Lawrence Aguebor, which according to him prompted a need to set the records straight.
“The said Lawrence is an ex-official of the Ward, and lacks the authority to suspend or expel anyone.
“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party had extended the tenure of all elected EXCOs and made ratification for them to act as caretaker committee,” he said.
Also speaking, the executives of the PDP Ward 2 in the local government disowned the purported suspension and expulsion of the two-term House of Representatives member.
Mr Jesuobo Obadigie, the Secretary of the Ward, said no such action was carried out.
“It is expected that anyone who loves the party should at this point be focused on actions that will unite the party ahead of the September governorship elections.
“This is to warn mischief makers and impostors to desist from their criminal and divisive actions that could cause potential harm,” he stated.
On his part, the Ward Chairman of the party, Prince Elemah, who denied signing any document against the former National Assembly member, added, “Ogbeide -Ihama remains our leader and a bonafide member.”
In an unanimous decision, the 12 members of the Ward EXCO declared that Ogbeide-ihama remains not just a member, but a leader of the party, and assured that he would continue to enjoy the total support of the members in Ward 2.
Ogbeide-Ihama represented the Oredo Federal Constituency in the National Assembly between 2015 and 2023