Dan Orbih: Edo PDP Loses Political Giant, Udebhulu Asks Who Will Fill The Void

The death of Chief Dan Osi Orbih has created a significant vacuum in Edo State politics, particularly within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he spent decades building a reputation as a formidable grassroots politician, organiser and strategist, APC chieftain and political analyst, Prince Kelly Udebhulu, has said.

Udebhulu described Orbih as one of the most recognisable faces of the PDP in Edo, saying his political influence was built over several decades of grassroots engagement, organisational strength, strategic relationships and resilience in the face of political challenges.

According to him, Orbih was not merely a politician who occupied party positions but a leader who understood the structures and relationships that drive political mobilisation.

“He understood the grassroots, the party structure and the complicated relationships that drive political mobilisation. His strength was his ability to organise, negotiate, mobilise and remain relevant even when the political environment became difficult,” Udebhulu said.

He noted that Orbih's political journey was characterised by victories, setbacks, internal party disagreements, shifting alliances and other challenges that tested his resilience, adding that his ability to remain politically relevant through changing circumstances was one of his defining qualities.

Udebhulu said Orbih's influence extended beyond Edo State, particularly during his tenure as National Vice Chairman of the PDP in the South-South, when he emerged as an important voice in the region and a familiar figure in national political circles.

He also highlighted Orbih's relationships across political divides as evidence of his ability to maintain relevance beyond the boundaries of partisan politics.

According to Udebhulu, one of the notable chapters of Orbih's later political life was his appointment by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as Chairman of the Governing Council of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.

He said the appointment was significant because it demonstrated that Orbih's experience and leadership qualities could be recognised even beyond his political party.

However, Udebhulu said Orbih's passing had now presented the Edo PDP with a major leadership question: who will carry the face of the party after him?

He argued that the answer could not simply be found in whoever eventually occupies a party position, stressing that Orbih's political stature was the product of decades of experience, relationships, organisation and grassroots engagement.

“The successor must possess more than ambition. He or she must have grassroots credibility, organisational capacity, courage, political maturity, the ability to mobilise people and the wisdom to build bridges among competing interests,” he said.

Udebhulu acknowledged that there are several capable politicians within the Edo PDP, but maintained that finding an individual who combines the qualities that made Orbih formidable would be a difficult task.

He noted that while some politicians may possess Orbih's courage, others may have his organisational skills, political connections or grassroots appeal, but bringing all those qualities together in one political personality would present a significant challenge.

The APC chieftain, however, cautioned against the expectation that Orbih's successor must become his replica, saying the political realities of today's Edo State require a new generation of leadership capable of learning from his legacy while developing its own identity.

“The PDP must understand that there can never be another Dan Orbih. His successor should not attempt to become his photocopy. What Edo needs is a new political leader who can learn from his strengths while responding to the realities of today's politics,” he said.

Udebhulu described Orbih's political career as a lesson in the importance of building relevance over time, noting that enduring political influence cannot be created overnight through titles, social media visibility or financial resources.

He said genuine political relevance is earned through years of engagement, loyalty, organisation, relationships, strategic thinking and the courage to remain standing during difficult political periods.

He further said Orbih's death marked the end of an important chapter in the political history of Edo State, particularly for the PDP, which must now confront the challenge of strengthening its leadership and preparing a new generation capable of carrying the party forward.

According to him, the political space created by Orbih's absence will inevitably attract the attention of emerging and established political actors, but whoever seeks to occupy that space must demonstrate substance, credibility and the capacity to unite different interests.

“Orbih has left the stage, but the political space he occupied remains. Who will fill it is now the defining question for Edo PDP,” Udebhulu said.

He added that the late politician's legacy would continue to influence political conversations in Edo, particularly among those who witnessed his decades of involvement in party politics and grassroots mobilisation.

For Udebhulu, the challenge before the Edo PDP is not to find another Dan Orbih, but to produce a new political leader capable of building an equally enduring legacy.