It is indeed bad times for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo state as about 5000 members of the party have dumped it for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The PDP defectors include: Lucky Imaseun, a former deputy governor, Christopher Adesotu, a former deputy chairman of the party and Hon. John Abolagba, a former member of the House of Representatives and a deputy governor candidate of the party in 2012 governorship election.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Lucky Imaseun said: “Many people have asked me why do you want to join the Comrade Governor?(Governor Adams Oshiomhole) If you wrestle with somebody for so long and you are not able to defeat the person, won’t you join the person? I pass Airport road, my mother is at Ogida market, I attended Agbado Primary School; Adolo College is in my neighbourhood, I pass Akpakpava road everyday and I see the work the governor has done there.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state
“Have you been to Edo Central and Edo North? My message to my few brothers and sisters left in the PDP is that this train must not miss us. The first one is taking off today at the Kings Square and I am joining it with my friends and brothers. I appeal to you to join this train to help build a formidable APC that Comrade Governor has built.
“We are going to take part in the glory of the governor. Everything he has done has been done by all of us. We are not coming to cause any confusion, we will attend our ward meeting where it is taking place and we accept the governor as our leader.
On ground to receive the defectors, Governor Oshiomhole assured the new entrants of equal opportunities with other founding members of the APC.
He said: “Today, the only political elephant that is left in the PDP has decided with his brothers and sisters across the three senatorial districts to formally renounce their membership of the PDP so that they can realign, readjust and reintegrate with the progressives under the APC platform.
“I am very excited at the opportunity of working hand-in-hand with our brothers and sisters who we know in their heart and by some of the actions they have taken in the past that they rightly belong to the same family of the progressives. The movement of these people to APC means that the PDP is down and finished.
“In APC, we will do everything we can to integrate you into our control structures and to ensure that like other members of the APC, you will get what is due to you. Let me assure you on behalf of the party that we are not welcoming you by lips but by our hearts and working together to ensure continuous good governance in Edo state and under the leadership of President Buhari. Now that you have joined us, the broom has become stronger.”
Shortly after welcoming the decampees, Governor Adams Oshiomhole boasted that his state can provide the country with all the rice supplies it needs.
This development comes just a month after about 3,400 members of the party in the oil rich Ilaje local government area of the state dumped the PDP for the APC.
