PRESS STATEMENT
For Immediate Release
Office of The Publicity Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Edo State
5th October , 2025.

DAN ORBIH’S FICTIONAL CONGRESS: A MERCENARY SHOW FOR THE APC AND HIS PAYMASTER, NOT THE PDP

Ordinarily, I would not dignify the charade staged today in Benin City by Chief Dan Orbih with a response. However, genuine concerns expressed by members of our great party and well-meaning members of the public, coupled with the desperate mischief being circulated by APC operatives on social media, make it necessary to set the record straight.

Two days ago, the official leadership of the Edo State PDP, led by Dr Tony Aziegbemi, issued a public statement warning members of the party and the general public about the illegal and factional gathering being planned by Dan Orbih and his co-travellers. Despite that clear disclaimer and in defiance of the PDP Constitution, he has gone ahead today, the 5th of October 2025, to stage a phantom congress designed to create false impressions and curry favour with the APC and his paymaster.

Let it be known that no single official of the National Working Committee of the PDP was present to organise, supervise, or authorise Dan Orbih’s so-called congress. This is in sharp contrast to the genuine and constitutionally recognised state congress that produced the current Edo State Executive and State Working Committee of the PDP, headed by Dr Tony Aziegbemi, which was duly conducted with NEC-appointed Electoral and Appeal Panels and monitored by INEC.

What took place today was not a PDP congress. It was, at best, a gathering of disgruntled former members of the party seeking political relevance through theatrics. Most of those who sat with Dan Orbih no longer belong to our party:

Dr John Ogbeide of Oredo Ward 2 was expelled two years ago for failure to pay party dues.

Dr Wilson Imogan of Owan West was recently expelled by his ward executive after over 24 months of absence from ward, LGA, and state meetings.

Eseosa Amadasun defected to the APC after losing her House of Assembly election.

Francis Inegbeneki of Esan Central Ward 9 left the PDP about six months ago.

How can a congress of people who are not members of the PDP produce anything other than mischief and ridicule? It is a political circus and a shameful advertisement of desperation.

If Dan Orbih were sincere about party-building, he would have participated in the PDP primaries like every other loyal member. Instead, he chose to operate as an errand boy, renting a hall and recruiting former members to act out a script written in the APC Secretariat.

Dan Orbih, seeing that the APC he now serves is gasping for breath under the sustained media onslaught from the Edo PDP and the Nigerian public, has embarked on this distraction tactic. We refuse to be distracted. We refuse to take our eyes off the ball. Our focus remains on holding the unbelievably inept Government of APC and Monday Okpebholo in Edo State accountable for their incompetence, lawlessness, and anti-people policies.

The speed with which APC appointees and media trolls circulated images and videos from today’s sham is the clearest indication of its sponsorship and intent. When an appointee of the APC organises a fake congress and APC members jubilate over it, no one needs further explanation.

President Bola Tinubu is notorious for weaponising renegades in opposition parties to instigate division and retain power by subversion. He perfected that ignoble craft in Lagos and has now exported it to national politics. In Edo State, this blueprint is being implemented through Dan Orbih on behalf of his benefactor and in concert with the local APC.

Let it be restated emphatically that the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State is intact, focused, and moving forward under the legitimate leadership of Dr Tony Aziegbemi and the State Working Committee produced through the authentic congresses conducted by the NEC. No stage-managed gathering by expelled members, defectors, and political merchants can change that reality.

Members of the PDP and the good people of Edo State are advised to treat today’s amusement park performance with the contempt it deserves. The real PDP remains the only viable alternative to the current inept and draconian administrations in Edo and Abuja.

Signed,

DAN Osa-Ogbegie, Esq.
Publicity Secretary, PDP Edo State