Seventeen local government chairmen in Edo State have officially left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defection took place on Wednesday at the New Festival Hall in the Government House, Benin City. However, the acting Chairman of Oredo Local Government, Harrison Izekor, was absent from the event.
This mass defection comes just days after PDP lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly also switched to the APC, giving the ruling party a stronger presence in the state legislature.
Welcoming the defectors, Governor Monday Okpebholo praised their decision, saying it showed their political vision and willingness to work for the development of Edo State. He noted that his administration had already made significant changes in the four months since taking office.
“Let me draw your minds back to where we are coming from as an administration. We practically met Edo that was not working when we came into office. What we met in Edo were insecurity, killings, looting of state treasury using consultants to deceive Edo people and other backward policies implemented by the Obaseki-led administration, but we came and changed the narrative,” the governor said.
Okpebholo expressed his gratitude to former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Senator representing Edo North, and APC State Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, for their continued support. He also thanked the councillors, stating that their actions in removing the previous chairmen led to the appointment of the new ones.
“I also thank the councillors who spoke for their various communities through the impeachment exercises in the councils and subsequent appointment of these new chairmen across the 17 local government areas of the State,” he said.
The governor and his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, reaffirmed their commitment to developing Edo State, stating their administration was focused on rescuing the state from past failures. Okpebholo also expressed confidence that more opposition leaders would join the APC due to the progress being made.
“I am optimistic that leaders of the opposition parties in the state would join the APC fold following my infrastructural development strides in the state,” he said.
The APC State Secretary, Lawrence Okah, urged the new members to work closely with existing party members to push forward the governor’s vision for a better Edo State.
“The desire of the governor is to unite the State and ensure the people enjoy the dividends of democracy through his developmental strides,” Okah stated.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, ALGON Chairman and Esan Central Local Government Chairman, Kelvin Iyere, explained their reason for leaving the PDP.
“We decided to decamp from PDP because of the crisis in our party and our love for the development that Governor Okpebholo has brought to Edo State,” Iyere said.
Governor Okpebholo also voiced his support for President Bola Tinubu and assured APC supporters that the party was in a strong position to win re-election in 2027.
However, the PDP has reacted to the defections, accusing the governor of using state resources to lure councillors and local government officials to the APC. Edo PDP Caretaker Committee Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, alleged that councillors were being offered money to switch parties.
“Senator Monday Okpebholo has summoned all councillors from the 18 local councils of Edo State, in a desperate attempt to woo them with N2m each to decamp to the All Progressives Congress,” Nehikhare claimed.
He criticized the alleged use of government funds for political gains, calling it “reckless” and “unacceptable.”
“We condemn in the strongest terms the reckless use of state resources to purchase support and loyalty, while critical sectors of the state remain in dire need of government intervention, from security to public safety and order, revenue generation, education, and healthcare, among others,” Nehikhare stated.
He urged Governor Okpebholo to focus on addressing key issues in the state instead of spending resources on political defections.
“Rather than wasting resources on buying political support and loyalty, we urge him to channel these resources into meaningful projects that will positively impact the people of the State during his short period at Dennis Osadebe Avenue,” he said.
