Esan Central LG Chairman, leads 17 Edo Council Chairmen Defection To APC
By: Oriaifoh Godwins
Today, Wednesday 19th March 2025, the Chairman, Esan Central Local Government, ECLG, area, Rt. Hon. Kelvin Iyere Ainiyelenhimi, led Chairmen of 17 local government councils who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the New Festival Hall, Edo state Government House, Osadebey Avenue, where they all officially declared for the APC.
The defection report, is contained in a Press release, titled: GOV OKPEBHOLO PREDICTS LANDSLIDE VICTORY FOR TINUBU IN 2027, AS 17 LG CHAIRMEN DUMP PDP FOR APC IN EDO, dated, Wednesday,19 March, 2025, and signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor, Fred Itua.
Speaking on behalf of the Chairmen, the ALGON chairman, Edo state Chapter, Rt. Hon. Iyere, Chairman, Esan Central Local Government Area, thanked the Governor and all APC party faithful for accepting them into the fold of the APC.
According to the Press release, Rt. Hon. Iyere pointed out that, they decided to decamp from the PDP, to the APC, because of the crisis in their party and their love for the development that Governor Okpebholo has brought to Edo State.
Welcoming the Chairmen to the All Progressives Congress, Governor Monday Okpebholo said; “I welcome you all our Chairmen who have come to join us, and I praise you for the courage and bravery to leave your party to join the APC. It takes a grounded politician to take this step you have taken today.
“Let me draw your minds back to where we are coming from as an administration. We practically met that Edo was not working when we came into office. What we met in Edo were insecurity, killings, looting Edo 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 used the occasion to thank a former governor of Edo State and Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; the State chairman of APC, Jarret Tenebe and all members of the APC for their continued support and sacrifices.
Governor Okpebholo also thanked the councillors who spoke for their various communities through the impeachment exercises in the councils and subsequent election of the new chairmen across the 17 local government areas of Edo State.
Governor Okpebholo who praised the leadership style of President Tinubu said steps that previous administration were afraid to take that would have put the nation on sound footing for development and growth is what he took by removing the contentious fuel subsidy.
He said his administration is in to develop the State and make the lives of the people better.
Continuing, Governor Monday Okpebholo said; “2027 is a reality in Edo State, as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will continue in office. I charge the 17 of you today that the campaign for the election of President Bola Tinubu has started here today. Go back to your various local governments and erect his bill boards to draw home the message of re-electing President Tinubu.
“There is no vacancy in 2027 in Abuja. Those forming a political party now can’t rule us. They ruled their States and the people suffered from kidnapping, but since they left offices, their States are now free. Such people can’t rule Nigeria,” he declared.
The Governor expressed optimism that leaders of the opposition parties in the State will join the APC fold following his infrastructural development strides in the State.
The party secretary Lawrence Okah, who received the decampees on behalf of the APC, thanked the new members, urging them to unite with other members of the party as the administration of Governor Okpebholo has come to rescue the State from retrogression, adding that, the desire of the governor is to unite the State and ensure the people enjoy the dividends of democracy through his developmental strides".
Dignitaries present at the event include, the Deputy Governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mallam Gani Audu, Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor, Members of the Edo State House of Assembly, EDHA, serving Commissioners, other top government officials and APC party faithful among others.
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