Seventeen out of the 18 local government chairmen in Edo State have defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The defection ceremony took place at the New Festival Hall in the Government House, with Governor Monday Okpebholo welcoming the new members and praising their decision to join the APC. The only chairperson missing from the event was Harrison Izekor, the acting chairman of Oredo Local Government.
This defection comes just days after several PDP lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly also joined the APC, giving the ruling party majority status in the legislature. Governor Okpebholo took the opportunity to highlight the changes his administration has brought to the state in just four months, contrasting his leadership with the previous administration under Governor Obaseki, which he criticized for insecurity and poor governance.
The governor expressed gratitude to prominent figures like former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and APC State Chairman Jarret Tenebe for their support, and he acknowledged the councillors who played a role in impeaching the previous local government chairmen. Okpebholo emphasized his commitment to the state’s development and expressed optimism that more opposition leaders would join the APC due to the ongoing infrastructural strides in the state.
In response, the new chairmen, led by Kelvin Iyere, Chairman of Esan Central Local Government Area, thanked the governor and the APC for welcoming them, citing the internal crisis within the PDP and their support for Okpebholo’s developmental efforts as key reasons for their defection.
However, the defection has sparked controversy, with the PDP’s Publicity Secretary in Edo State, Chris Nehikhare, accusing Governor Okpebholo of using state resources to bribe councillors into defecting to the APC. Nehikhare described the alleged use of state funds to buy political loyalty as “reckless” and urged the governor to redirect the resources toward addressing pressing issues like security, education, healthcare, and public safety in the state.
The APC, meanwhile, continues to emphasize the importance of unity within the party and its commitment to driving Edo’s development forward.