…17 PDP LG council chairmen join APC in Edo
The Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has predicted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will win the 2027 Presidential election with a landslide.
Okpebholo made the assertion on Wednesday in Benin, while addressing Chairmen of the 17 local government councils who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He praised the leadership style of President Tinubu especially for taken steps that previous administration were afraid to take, in the area of subsidy removal, adding that such measures would have put the nation on sound footing for development and growth.
The governor informed that his administration is in to develop the State and make the lives of the people better.
Okpebholo maintained his administration is ready to work to change the lives of the people for the better, stressing that in just four months in office, he and his team have changed the narrative of Edo State.
“2027 is a reality in Edo State as President Bola Amed Tinubu will continue in office. I charge the 17 of you today that the campaign for the election of President Bola Tinubu has started here today.
“Go back to your various local governments and erect his bill boards to draw home the message of re-electing President Tinubu. There is no vacancy in 2027 in Abuja. Those forming a political party now can’t rule us.
“They ruled their States and the people suffered from kidnapping, but since they left offices, their States are now free. Such people can’t rule Nigeria,” he declared.
“I welcome you all our Chairmen who have come to join us, and I praise you for the courage and bravery to leave your party to join the APC. It takes a grounded politician to take this step you have taken today.
“Let me draw your minds back to where we are coming from as an administration. We practically met that Edo was not working when we came into office.
“What we met in Edo were insecurity, killings, looting Edo treasury using consultants to deceive Edo people and other backward policies implemented by the Obaseki led administration, but we came and changed the narrative”, he said.
He thanked the councillors who spoke for their various communities through the impeachment exercises in the councils and subsequent election of these new chairmen across the 17 local government areas of Edo State.
Governor Okpebholo assured the President that Edo is right behind him, predicting a landslide victory in the election as the APC will continue to lead the country.
The State APC Secretary who received the decampees on behalf of the party, Lawrence Okah, thanked the new members, urging them to unite with other members of the party as the administration of Governor Okpebholo has come to rescue the State from retrogression.
Responding on behalf of the Chairmen, the ALGON Chairman and Chairman of Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, Hon. Kelvin Iyere thanked the Governor and his party for accepting them.
He revealed that they decided to decamp from PDP because of the crisis in their party and their love for the development that Governor Okpebholo has brought to the State.
Reacting to the defection of the former PDP members, the Edo State Publicity Secretary of the Party, Chris Nehikhare, alleged that the governor gave the defectors N2 million each.
“Senator Monday Okpebholo has summoned all councillors from the 18 local councils of Edo State, in a desperate attempt to woo them with N2m each to decamp to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We are reliably informed that the meeting is holding right now at the Government House, Benin City, the Edo State capital.
We condemn in the strongest terms the reckless use of state resources to purchase support and loyalty, while critical sectors of the state remain in dire need of government intervention, from security to public safety and order, revenue generation, education, and healthcare, among others.
The security crisis in the last few weeks has claimed the lives of at least 40 innocent Edo citizens, who are victims of the brutality of herders, kidnappers, and other violent attacks.
“The activities of thugs and non-state actors who have continued to harass, intimidate and extort citizens of the State have remained unabated, leaving the majority of residents in fear and causing a drastic fall in revenue generation.
“Meanwhile, the health sector under Okpebholo’s watch is in a state of complete neglect. Health facilities, including the Edo Specialist Hospital, are struggling with a lack of essential medical supplies, making basic healthcare inaccessible to the people.
“The education sector has also suffered from his administration’s failure, ranking among the lowest in budgetary allocation and priority. As a result, students are learning less, and the system is deteriorating at an alarming rate.
“Yet, Okpebholo’s primary focus is on using state resources to woo councillors to defect to his party. This is not only shameful and disappointing but totally unacceptable.
“Rather than wasting resources on buying political support and loyalty, we urge him to channel these resources into meaningful projects that will positively impact the people of the State during his short period at Dennis Osadebey Avenue.
“As a party, we remain confident that the judiciary will correct the injustice of September 21, 2024, and return the stolen mandate to the PDP and Asue Ighodalo, whom the people of Edo State overwhelmingly voted for in the last governorship election so as to bring an end to Okpebholo and APC’s rascality in the State”, Nehikhare said through a statement made available to newsmen in Benin.
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