Following the screening out of Governor Godwin Obaseki by his party, All Progressive Congress (APC) from contesting the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State, the governor today defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Obaseki picked the PDP membership card amidst funfair at the party’s state secretariat situated at First East Circular Road, Benin.
Speaking at the event that lasted about 30 minutes, the governor noted that he defected to PDP because the party believes in justice and fairness adding, “I am here this afternoon to inform you that following my resignation from APC, I have now decided, having consulted very widely, within the state and across the country, to become a member of PDP”.
According to him, the party has demonstrated and shown that it is routed in democratic practices, explaining that he was at the party secretariat to go through the formalities of registering as a member of this great party.
He said, “I know, I understand fully well the implications of this decision. I know that upon taking on the membership of the great party, I now automatically become the leader of the party in the state, that is the Constitution. I want to assure all of you that I’m prepared to provide leadership that will lead this party to victory. I’m prepared to provide the leadership that will put PDP in the office in Edo state.
“As the ruling party in Edo state, I will make sure that the level of progress, the level of participation in the political system by our people will be unrivaled. I am very happy with the reception that I’ve received since I got in here. This is the kind of energy I require to the level we should go to next. If you think we have done it in the last four years, you haven’t seen anything yet, because, with the quality of the people I’ve seen here, the quality of the people who are running this party, the energy of the youth I see, by the grace of God who makes today possible, I am committing to you that I will not only lift the party to victory on Edo state, but will now make sure that this party is an example of how states should be run in Africa.
“Today, it is with great pleasure that I have come to formally take my membership card of this great party”.
Defecting to PDP with Obaseki are his deputy, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Frank Okiye, fourteen Members of the House of Assembly, sixteen Chairmen of various Local Government Areas and 196 Councillors.
Responding, the state chairman of PDP, Dr. Antony Aziegbemi promised that the party would always look up to the governor for direction.
He stated, “Let me say this unequivocally, as he has rightly said, the leader of the party in Edo state is the Governor of the state, so that we are all on the same page in this. Your Excellency, just know, that as the leader of the party in the state, we look up to you for direction, for what you want us to do and we are ready to to follow you”.
Also, the party National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus described the defection of Obaseki to PDP as an act of God stressing that soon, Obaseki would know that he did not make a mistake by joining PDP.
Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakah, Governor Nyesom Wike, former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose and others have welcomed Governor Obaseki and others who defected with him into the party.
Reacting, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the spokesperson of APC noted that the defection did not come as a surprise
