By PATRICIA AMOGU

Earl Osaro Onaiwu, a frontline PDP governorship aspirant in Edo has urged Gov. Godwin Obaseki to stop blackmailing the “eight loyal and faithful” party members seeking to become governor of the state.

Onaiwu who made the call in a statement he issued on Tuesday, was speaking on behalf of the eight governorship aspirants who have stood against what they termed “the flawed state delegate election of the party held at the weekend.”

He said Obaseki’s postulation that the eight aspirants were being sponsored by the G5 Governors was “baseless and a blackmail.”

According to him, the false narrative being peddled by the governor and his team is aimed at mobilising support for Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar.

He said that as a former Director-General of the PDP Governors’ Forum, he enjoyed and still enjoys a relationship with the esteemed Nigerians who have formed the G5 Governors.

“Is it not ironic that the Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah who midwifed the flawed congress is a product of G5?” he asked.

The former director-general of the PDP governors’ forum said he played a prominent role in the presidential campaigns of Atiku Abubakar in the 36 states of the federation in both 2019 and 2023 unflinchingly.

According to him, because of that antecedent and his unwavering loyalty to the party, no-one is in a position to blackmail him.

“Obaseki and his aides were welcomed into this party by us, and we cannot abandon our party for them,” Onaiwu said

He stated that the eight of them eating the government house have been committed members of PDP long before the Obaseki joined, therefore, their loyalty to the party will remain unshakable.

He commended Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo state for his display of courage in being the first to raise concerns about the flawed and one-sided arrangements of the Edo ward Congress.

“This display of courage is laudable and shows the true character of a committed party member,” Onaiwu said in the statement.

He called on all party faithful, former PDP Senate Presidents, and former PDP Presidential aspirants to unite and speak out against the alleged injustice prevailing in the state.

He said, “It is imperative that we stand together in solidarity to ensure justice and fairness in the party’s internal democratic process.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that nine aspirants in their letter to the acting National Chairman, Umar Illiya, and copied to the National Vice Chairman South-South of the party, Chief Dan Orbih protested the process and compositions of those to conduct the delegates election.

The petition was signed by Dep. Gov. Philip Shaibu, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Anselm Ojezua, Felix Akhabue, Amb. Martin Uhomoibhi, Hafia Hadizat Umoru, Hon. Omosede Igbinedion, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, and Barr. Arthur Esene. (NAN)