Ismail Abdulazeez Mantu Reporting
Edo State, Nigeria
The immediate past member representing Oredo Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Ogbeide Ihama Omoregie, has been expelled from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for anti-party activities.
The expulsion was announced following an enlarged meeting of Ward 2 Oredo Local Government Area (LGA) members and executives, held on Airport Road in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
Lawrence Aguebor, Chairman of PDP Ward 2 in Oredo, read the resolution of the meeting. According to Aguebor, the decision to expel Ihama followed a 30-day suspension initiated on May 3, 2024, by the ward executives and critical stakeholders of Oredo Ward 2. This suspension led to the formation of a disciplinary committee which was tasked with investigating Ihama’s activities.
Aguebor explained, “The committee wrote him letters, called him on the phone, and convened five times, but Ogbeide Ihama Omoregie failed to appear before them. Today, we have received the report and recommendations of the committee, which recommended his expulsion from the PDP. The offenses of Hon. Ihama, for which he now stands expelled, are captured under section 58 (1) a, b, d, e, f, h, l, j, l.”
The ward party members put his expulsion to a voice vote, with all members unanimously backing the decision. The resolution explicitly instructs the public to cease any political dealings with Ihama under the PDP banner.
Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Political Matters (Oredo), Hon. Victor Enoghama, emphasized that the suspension and subsequent expulsion were overdue. Enoghama revealed that Ihama had donated his building at Ring Road by Sakponba Road Junction to the All Progressive Congress (APC) for use as a campaign office in the upcoming September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State.
Enoghama stated, “Hon. Ogbeide Ihama Omoregie’s suspension is long overdue. Let him join the APC family; we can’t allow him to be in PDP and fraternize with the APC.”
He further urged, “We also call on the ward of the former deputy governor to follow suit and expel Comrade Philip Shaibu from the PDP, also for anti-party activities. Shaibu has donated his campaign office at Airport Road with vehicles to the APC for the governorship election on September 21st, 2024. He can’t be in PDP and support APC.”