The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has postponed its state congress indefinitely following deepening internal disagreements over the party’s voters’ register.
The crisis has reportedly split the party into two factions, with members divided over the mode of conducting the congress. While one group pushed for a direct congress, another insisted on an indirect process.
The congress, which was scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, was delayed until about 2:00 p.m. as party members failed to reach a consensus on the modalities for the exercise.
Announcing the postponement, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee for the congress, Yakubu Paul, said the decision was taken after consultations with the party’s National Secretariat.
Paul said the postponement was approved by the National Secretariat of the party.
“According to him, I have just spoken with the National Secretariat and received approval to postpone this congress to enable us to prepare for the reschedule. We were supposed to have held our ward and local government congresses, after which the chairmen and secretaries that emerged would serve as delegates to vote at the state congress, but this was not done,” he said.
However, members of the faction said to be loyal to the incumbent state chairman, Dr. Greg Igbinomwanya, insisted that only 344 individuals captured in the party’s register should be eligible to vote. Those aligned with Yakubu Paul rejected this position, alleging manipulation of the register.
Speaking on behalf of the aggrieved members, Adams Erunmwunse accused the party leadership of losing credibility and alleged that the chairman was attempting to influence the process to secure a return to office.
“Greg never wanted this congress to hold because his tenure ended in 2024; hence he came up with a retrogressive register of just 344 members,” he added.
When contacted, Dr. Greg Igbinomwanya dismissed the allegations, insisting that the register in contention was authentic.
Igbinomwanya alleged that some individuals were sponsored to obtain membership cards on the morning of the congress solely to participate in the exercise, but they did not.
