Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, urged the national leadership of the party to zone the presidency to the South-South in the 2023 presidential election.
It argued that the party fought tirelessly to reclaim the state from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to a PDP-led government after 11 years, adding that zoning the presidency to the South-South would right the wrongs inflicted on the PDP when former President Goodluck Jonathan was deprived of getting a second term.
State Chairman of the party, Anthony Aziegbemi, said Edo people showed their love for the PDP and Governor Godwin Obaseki by voting him on September 19, 2020, to continue his people-oriented policies and programs in the state.
He stated this while briefing journalists in Benin City shortly after a special thanksgiving service to mark his first year anniversary in office, insisting that PDP has the best quality of leaders from the zone.
He stressed that the PDP would do its best to sustain its leadership and ensure that it retained power in future elections, promising to consolidate on the foundation of his predecessor, Dan Orbih-led a state executive to provide leadership for the party in the state.
“We were not surprised when Governor Obaseki approached us for the PDP gubernatorial ticket. And for me, it was a partial fulfillment of my promise to return PDP to the government.
“This was a rare opportunity to assume government even before votes were cast. Of course, it wasn’t an easy decision considering the caliber of persons who were interested in the party’s ticket. We had to endure the crucible of both fair and unfair daily probing,” he stated.
Aziegbemi said the transition to a PDP-led government after 11 years of APC administration was eventually achieved with remarkable ease, adding that it was a tribute to Governor Obaseki, the Edo people, and the PDP faithful.
He pointed out that Obaseki’s defection to the PDP could be described as a perfect marriage and the final move that sealed the party’s victory in Edo State.
“Here is a party that had found its way into the hearts of the Edo people through hard work and reforms and a governor, who earned the people’s trust through performance in his first term.
“A governor with a PDP mandate was the total fulfillment of my promise and we are proud of what we have achieved because we are resetting Edo for the better. I thank my colleagues and the party for their support through that battle. Between us, we have transformed the prospects for our state and we did it with raw political guts,” he added.
