The crisis rocking the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continued unabated on Wednesday as the party announced the expulsion of Dan Orbih, Hon Philip Shaibu and Hon Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama from the party.
According to reports, the Anthony Aziegbemi-led state executives announced the purported expulsion of the trio from the party.
Orbih is the National Vice Chairman South-South of the party, Shaibu is the former deputy governor of the state, and Ogbeide-Ihama was a two-time lawmaker and the immediate past Oredo Federal Constituency Representative in the National Assembly.
The party’s State Publicity Secretary, Ogie Vasco, disclosed this in a statement in Benin City.
Vasco, who said the expulsion was with immediate effect, added that they were expelled for anti-party activities.
He said the State Working Committee has upheld their suspension and expulsion.
He added that the decision was taken on Wednesday at a meeting attended by nine members of the State Working Committee at the party secretariat located on Airport Road, Benin City.
According to him, the SWC extensively deliberated on the issue and resolved to expel with immediate effect Chief Dan Orbih, National Vice Chairman South-South, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, and upheld the expulsion of Hon Ogbeide-Ihama from Ward 2, Oredo Local Government Area.
Reacting, Chief Dan Orbih described the action as the work of idle persons and busybodies.
Orbih, who spoke in a telephone interview, said the state leadership of the party is only “amusing their payment.”
He added that they don’t have the power to suspend a member of the National Working Committee.
“When a group of persons who are idle and have nothing to do sit down to make pronouncements that are unconstitutional, it only shows that they are ignorant of the constitution of the party.
“They don’t have any power to even suspend or expel anybody without strictly following the provisions of the party’s constitution.
“So, that is all I have to say about that and nothing more,” he added.