4 Edo legislators, top APC chieftains defect to PDP

From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

Four All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly members in Edo state and some aggrieved top members of the party led by the former Secretary to the State Government, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, yesterday announced their defection to the Peoples Democratic party (PDP).

The legislators are, Patrick Osayimwen (Oredo East constituency), Jude Ise-Idehen (Ikpoba-Okha constituency), Friday Ogierhiakhi (Orhionmwon south constituency) and Razaq Momoh (Etsako West constituency).

Their defection followed the inability by the leadership to heed the call for the outright cancellation of the concluded APC party Registration and inconclusive congresses by the group.

Former Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Prince Tony Omoaghe, who addressed the crowd of supporters, chided the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, for allegedly hijacking the APC structure.

Pastor Ize-Iyamu, former national vice chairman of the defunct ACN, said: “No man is God”, and described as “unfortunate” the exit of the members of the party, which he claimed, have laboured to build the party.

Responding, interim state Publicity Secretary of APC, Godwin Erhahon, wish the defectors well to the “lion’s den”, describing the members of the group as “seasonal birds”.

According to him, “we are sure we are parting to meet again. And they will come back in the next season”.

Former chairman of the defunct ACN in the state and former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Thomas Okosun, described their decision as sad, and urged them to retrace their steps if their actions was not for personal interest.

“Let me say for us it is sad, sad in the sense that these are people who have been our friends for years have today decided to leave us. But that is not the end of life, we have a responsibility as a political party to begin to rebuild our party for the next elections, and not just for elections but begin to work more for the people of Edo state because power is meant to be used for the benefit of the common people.

“They should not be deceived by believing that PDP will ever win elections in Edo state any more, it is over and it is over for PDP. The glory of God has since departed from PDP. Yes that we won election.