Edo State governor, Sen. Monday Okpebholo on Wednesday received into the party the 17 Acting Chairmen out of the 18 Local Government areas of the state.
The governor received the defectors at the New Festival Hall of Government House, Benin City.
The Governor said his administration is ready to work to change the lives of the people for the better, adding that in just four months in office, he and his team have changed the narrative of Edo State.
While delivering his speech, Okphebholo 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 state was not working when we came into office. What we met in Edo were insecurity, killings, looting the 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.”
He also thanked the councillors who spoke for their various communities through the impeachment exercises in the councils and subsequent election of these new chairmen across the 17 local government areas of Edo State.
The party secretary who received the decampees on behalf of the APC, Lawrence Okah 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.
Responding on behalf of the Chairmen, the ALGON chairman and chairman of Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, Hon. Kelvin Iyere thanked the Governor and all APC party faithful for accepting them into the fold of the APC.
Reacting to the defection, the PDP alleged that the governor gave the defectors N2 million each.
A statement by the Publicity Secretary of the Caretaker Committee of the PDP, Chris Nehikhare said “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.
“The security crisis in the last few weeks has claimed the lives of at least 40 innocent Edo citizens, who are victims of the brutality of herders, kidnappers, and other violent attacks. The activities of thugs and non-state actors who have continued to harass, intimidate and extort citizens of the State have remained unabated, leaving the majority of residents in fear and causing a drastic fall in revenue generation.
“As a party, we remain confident that the judiciary will correct the injustice of September 21, 2024, and return the stolen mandate to the PDP and Asue Ighodalo, whom the people of Edo State overwhelmingly voted for in the last governorship election so as to bring an end to Okpebholo and APC’s rascality in the State.”