A former liaison officer for Edo State’s Etsako East Local Government Area, Mr. Paul Frank Aronokhale has left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which is in power in the state.

Mr. Aronokhale, a member of the PDP campaign committee for the state’s approaching gubernatorial race, announced his immediate resignation from the PDP in a letter dated July 28, 2024.

The former party official thanked God for the chance to serve in different positions under the PDP platform, citing the ongoing turmoil that is rocking the party from the ward to the national level, but he said he could no longer stay in the party because of the prevailing conflict.

The letter, which was addressed to the Ward 8 Chairman of Etsako East LGA

“Please kindly accept this letter as an official notice of my resignation as a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect.

“I appreciate the privilege and opportunities to have served as the liaison officer (LO) and Secretary to the Local Government (SLG) in Etsako East local government council under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

“However, I am no longer comfortable with the crisis rocking the party from the ward to the national level, hence my resignation”

Prior to being named by Governor Godwin Obaseki as the Liaison Officer (Caretaker Chairman), Mr. Aronokhale was the Local Government Secretary from 2019 to 2022.

His resignation comes at a time when the PDP is still dealing with power struggles and internal strife, which are having an impact on the stability and cohesiveness of the organization.

Recently, Abas Jega, a powerful party figure and former commissioner who had left earlier, encouraged other PDP supporters to join the opposition APC in the state.

Party supporters are worried about the move because they believe it could cause more defections and hurt the party’s chances in the next Edo State governorship race.