Edo PDP crisis deepens as Orbih’s faction disown petition against REC

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the Edo State police commissioner, Abutu Yaro, to disregard the petition written allegedly from the party which led to the arrest of Dr Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Edo State.

The party stated that PDP’s state working committee and State party executive had no hand in such letter.

In a letter letter dated 29 July, and signed by Edo State PDP secretary, Hillary Ottu, the party said the REC and the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) had acted on legitimate information passed to them from the party in Edo State.

“Our attention has been drawn to a story in the social media, that our Party, PDP, has written a Petition to the Police accusing the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem, to be ‘thoroughly investigated, and the suspect charged to court”’on allegations of forgery.

“We wish to distance our State Working Committee and State Executive, from this condemnable petition against INEC and the State REC, Dr. Sinikiem,” PDP said.

The party added that Dr. Alalibo Sinikiem and INEC were properly and duly communicated to, by the State Secretary, as enshrined in the party constitution, cited as Section 5 (36) b of the PDP Constitution 2017 as amended.

“Furthermore, INEC/Dr. Sinikiem carried out their constitutional duties excellently.

“We wish to state that in line with our Constitution, the State Chapter followed all due processes in conducting all the Congresses from Ward, Local Government to State Level.

“The relevant sections of our constitution were strictly adhered to and the State Exco did not at any time or at any meeting, recommend a petition to be brought against INEC/Dr. Alalibo Sinikiem,” letter read.