Igbinedion’s Daughter, Others Dump PDP for APC
Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
The membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, yesterday, swelled as the daughter of Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, a former member of the House of Representatives, Omosede Igbinedion, and her supporters joined the APC a few hours after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Ms Igbonedion was received at the Edo South senatorial district flag-off of the APC governorship campaign for the September 21 gubernatorial polls by political leaders of the party, who berated the almost eight years administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
At the rally, the APC standard bearer, Senator Monday Okpebholo, unveiled a five-point manifesto, which included security, infrastructural development, education, agriculture and water provision.
The rally held at the Ekheuan Campus of the University of Benin attracted leaders of the party from the 77 wards that make up the Edo South district.
Speaking at the rally, former governorship candidate of the party, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, said the rally signified the end of the PDP in the state.
Also, a former member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, who recently returned to the APC, Mr. Charles Idahosa, urged the people of Edo Central to organise a debate for Okpebholo and his PDP counterpart, Asue Ighodalo, in their homeland to speak to their people and see who would falter.
Idahosa apologised to the people for leading Obaseki from the APC to the PDP, adding: “I was the face of Obaseki to the PDP. It was a mistake.”
Receiving Igbinedion, who was accompanied by two of her brothers, Mike and Fred Igbinedion, the Acting State Chairman of the APC, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe said, “The train to Osadebey Avenues is taking off and it will stop in Edo Central, Edo North and come back to Edo South, so the people should enter the train now before it gets to Osadebey Avenue.”
Speaking, Omosede Igbinedion said she left the PDP because the APC had supported her vision for Ovia people.
Former governor of the state and senator representing Edo North in at the National Assembly, Adams Oshiomhole, noted that Igbinedion’s coming to the APC was an asset and urged the people to vote out PDP and its candidate, whom he accused of presenting fake credentials of what he is not.
