Seventeen days to the September 21, 2021, governorship election in Edo State, political horse-trading continues to dominate the electioneering as a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a lawmaker that represented Akoko-Edo II from 2015 to 2023, Emmanuel Agbaje, resigned his membership of the party.
In a letter to his Ward 10 chairman in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, dated September 2nd 2024, Agbaje complained of alienation and alleged sidelining in the scheme of the things in the party and his Ward 10.
The ex-lawmaker therefore joined the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Agbaje’s resignation letter reads in part: “This decision has not been taken lightly but after careful consideration and consultation with my support base and leaders. I believe it is the best course of action for me at this time.
“Since democracy provides for choices, I am entitled to review my involvement and seek alignment that recognises loyalty, dedication, and sacrifices. I can no longer accept the deliberate alienation and the sidelining of core Party faithful and leaders, particularly from our ward.
“As a founding member of the Party, it is a difficult decision considering the relationships built within the Party over the years as well as the feelings of good friends who may choose to remain. My assurances are that our friendship and relationships remain protected and insulated. Life outside politics is larger.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your leadership and support during my time in the Party. I have valued our working relationship and the shared commitment we have had to the ideals of the APC. I look forward to a continuous, robust relationship that benefits our people and communities.”
Agbaje was the only APC lawmaker in the State House of Assembly besides the 14 that were not inaugurated in 2019 that did not defect with Governor Godwin Obaseki from the APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2020 governorship election.
That decision, it was gathered, led to the withholding of all his entitlements, apart from the monthly salary, till the end of his tenure in 2013.
Another of his grievances with the APC was that he was not consulted when the APC Government Campaign Council was constituted, as members who were still in the PDP in his ward were made members of the Council.
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