With less than 4 days to the September 28 governorship election in Edo state, over 10, 000 key members of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, United Progressives Party, UPP, African Democratic Congress, ADC, have endorsed the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr Godwin Obaseki.
Speaking at the defection, the PDP Youth Chairman of Egor local government area, Mr Lambart Omoregie who lamented that his defection was long overdue said, “I have been in darkness and i have seen the light. When my friends and family are in APC what should i be doing in PDP? A lot of people believe we will never decamp but today my followers and i have decided to join the APC.
Mr Omoregie who destroyed his PDP membership card alongside with his followers said, “Today i have rejected my position as the PDP youth leader and we have resolved to work for the APC”. He added.
Also speaking, the APGA state Chairman, Elder Godfrey Ehizokhale said it was saddened that the candidate of the party who is contesting for the election want to also act as the leader the party, a situation which he described as an error.
Elder Ehizokhale who decamped to the APC with the Senatorial Vice Chairman, Local government Chairman of Esan North East, 11 ward chairmen, youth and women leaders said, “I have not seen a situation where the person who is contesting is acting as the leader of the party. Instead of him to listen to the people he went on to accuse me that i embezzled campaign fund.
“We are the backbone of APGA and now we have joined the APC, we are going to use our broom to sweep out other political parties”. He stated.
Also, the ADC state chairman, Hon Frank Osifo who lead all the members of the party to the APC described the even as historical and said after careful thought and research about the candidates in the race, they have resolved to join hands with the APC candidate Obaseki in taking the state to the next level.
He said, “Today is historical for the APC. We are here to effect the change across the state. After going through the profile of all the candidates, we have come to realise that Mr Godwin Obaseki has been prepared to govern Edo.
“A man that is knowledgeable, a man that knows the problem of the people, a man that has the people’s interest at heart and has the prerequisites to be governor. It is based on these that we have come to join the APC to develop the state”. He added.
The Labour Party Treasurer, Mr Fred Uwangue who lead leaders of the party to the APC said, the development in the state was sacrosanct especially as what the party stands for is progress.
According to him, “All my leaders here have been in the Labour Party from the inception. What we used to see in Edo is lucky stone and they made every area in this state turn ‘Morocco and Spain’. People that couldn’t tar the road leading to their houses and villages, it was Oshiomhole that did it for them.
He affirmed that, “We are decamping to the APC today because when we heard Obaseki talk, we came to a conclusion that he is the right man to take over from Oshiomhole”.
Responding, the APC candidate Mr Godwin Obaseki described the defection as an earthquake to Edo politics and said “I now believe that Edo people know what democracy in Nigeria is all about. I have not seen where people will leave their parties with their candidate to another party but i have seen it today.
Obaseki thanked and welcomed the defectors to the APC urging that, “We have laid a foundation and that foundation can take a sky scrapper. You are joining the APC at the right time just as the end of the PDP is drawing near.
“Today’s politics has gone passed talking, what we have now is technological politics and we have show to the people of Edo state that government can actually work. So I want to thank all of you who have decided to join us; it is the right decision and remember to vote for the APC on the 28 September”.
The governorship candidate assured the people that his agenda for the Edo people is all encompassing and inclusive will be human empowerment which will spark the training of youths to be self dependent.
He added that women will be given soft loans to improve their business as taking care of the people’s welfare is not negotiable.
