Just a month to the February 14 presidential elections, the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reportedly suffered mass defection.
The Nation reports that, over 1,650 PDP members in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defectors, who were led by Justin Omoruyi, were received by the Edo Sate Deputy Governor Pius Egberanmwen Odubu.
Odubu while describing the defectors decision as ‘quite gratifying’ stated that the move had also increased the APC chances of winning next month’s general elections in the state.
The deputy governor explained that the APC was an all-inclusive, participatory party, irrespective of whether or not the members were new or old, adding that the party would continue to ensure equal opportunities for the people to have a sense of belonging in its activities.
“The people I saw coming into the APC are those we have always worked with since 1980s. What happened today is very reassuring: Uhunmwode is 99.9 per cent APC. I thank the leader of the local government, Charles Idahosa, for bringing them (the defectors) back. Their defection has further lightened the burden of APC in winning next month’s elections,” he said.
Idahosa, however, expressed optimism that APC would sweep the February elections in the local government, with the defection of the former PDP members.
“Over 500 PDP leaders from across the local government have just joined the APC. This is even without their followers. With this, it is over for the PDP in the local government,” Idahosa said.
