Edo PDP Campaign Chief Quits Party

Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, the man who led the campaign for Asue Ighodalo in the 2024 Edo State governorship election, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a letter dated July 17, 2025, and addressed to the chairman of his local PDP ward in Ikpoba-Okha, Edo State, Iduoriyekemwen said the party no longer reflects the values it once stood for.

According to Mr Iduoriyekemwen, “The values and principles that once defined the PDP, as laid down by our founding fathers, appear to have been eroded. What we see today no longer aligns with the vision they had for a truly democratic, inclusive, and people-centred political party.”

His resignation comes after Ighodalo, the PDP candidate in the 2024 election, lost his final legal battle at the Supreme Court. Ighodalo had lost the election to Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Recall that Okpebholo was declared the winner of the election with 291,667 votes, while Ighodalo got 247,274 votes.

Ighodalo and the PDP challenged the outcome of the election in court, alleging it was not conducted fairly. However, the Election Tribunal, the Court of Appeal, and eventually the Supreme Court all upheld the result, confirming Okpebholo as the duly elected governor.

After the court loss, Ighodalo in a statement said he felt “betrayed” and described the ruling as “a coordinated, deliberate robbery.” However, he asked his supporters to stay strong.