FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress ,APC, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje yesterday commended Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, for reclaiming the state and harvesting more members, including the Speaker of the Edo House of Assembly into the APC.
Ganduje gave the commendation while receiving defectors from the state into the APC in Benin.
He said that the APC has moved from minority to majority in the state legislature and would continue to wax stronger in the build-up to the 2027 general election with the support of Edo people.
The former governor of Kano State, who was represented by the party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, presented the symbol of the party to the 192 councilors, 18 LGA chairmen, and two lawmakers who defected to the party.
In his speech, the national secretary for the ruling party, All Progressives Congress ,APC, Ajibola Basiru , while receiving the defectors, appreciated them for dumping the PDP for the ruling APC.
Basiru said the only way the nation can be salvaged is to ensure the continuity of good governance by way of re-electing the APC and President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Ganduje, who commended the leadership of Okpebholo said, “The only party on the ground in Edo State is the APC”.
He added that for the massive support the party now enjoys in Edo State, it is a guarantee that President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in Edo State come 2027 is a sealed deal.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku urged other lawmakers in the EDHA to move to the ruling party to develop the state.
He noted two lawmakers defected alongside him to the ruling party,.
According to him, “If I fail to join the APC, isn’t that witchcraft?”
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, who led 17 Local Government Chairmen, numerous councilors, and several notable members of the Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP, to the All Progressives Congress ,APC, said the move was aimed at aligning with Governor Monday Okpebholo to fast-track development across the State.
Also speaking, Former governor of Edo State and Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Adams Oshiomhole hailed the Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo, for reclaiming the state for APC in line with the ‘Renewed Hope’ of President Tinubu.
He lamented that former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki had put the party in opposition and expressed gratitude to all Edo people for returning back the state to APC.
Oshiomhole said the APC now has 18 lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly out of the 24- Member House.
He enjoined the remaining 6 lawmakers to consider moving to the ruling party to complement the efforts of the state governor, Monday Okpebholo.
On his part, Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo applauded all and sundry for joining the APC in the state, noting that President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 is possible.
He urged all Edo people to join the winning team to deliver the party and victory for the APC and President Bola Tinubu in his re-election come 2027.
Among those who decamped with the Speaker are Hon. Sunny Ifada, Hon. Yekini Idiaye, former Deputy Speaker Hon. Roland Asoro, former House Majority Leader Hon. Nosa Nosayaba, and former PDP State Secretary, Gabriel Oloruntoba, among others.
