By Monday Osayande, Asaba
Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) and its gubernatorial Candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu seem to be coasting to victory as over 50 PDP members defected to APC in ward 06 Umagbae South, Uhunmwode local government area of Edo State.
Also seven of the 10 Councilors in Uhunmwode Local Government Council , against all odds, declared their loyalties to APC after refusing to defect with Governor Obaseki to PDP.
Hon. Augustine Omoroghomwan, Councilor representing Umagbae South Ward 06 said at a meeting of the ward leaders and executives ” I am here to tell you that I remain in APC. Seven of us refused to dance to the Governor’s music, while three others cave in, after all pressure.
The defectors, led by the former ward Secretary, Mr. Godwin Imagbe, were at the Weekend received by the Former Minority Whip, Hon Samson Osagie, APC Uhunmwode Local government Chairman, Hon. Lawson Osarenren and the party ward Chairman, Mr. Godwin Obamwonyi at a Political gathering in Eyaen Town, near Benin City.
The former PDP Chieftain in the area , Mr. Godwin Imagbe who spoke on behalf of other decampees shortly after being accepted into APC folds, declared that they dumped their former party for APC to work for Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu’s victory in the forthcoming Governorship Election in the State.
Imagbe boasted that they will deliver Umagbae South for APC because according to him, Obaseki who claims to have hailled from one of the villages in Uhunmwode, had failed to develop the area, after four years in government.
” We are here to join forces with you all for Obaseki’s downfall. We will work for APC. PDP is not a coordinated, the party leadership is selfish and doesn’t recognize hard work”, said Mr Imagbe who was immediately issued with APC card by the ward Chairman, Mr. Godwin Obamwonyi.
While receiving the defectors, Hon. Samson Osagie who is also the leader of the party, thanked them for coming at the right time to chase out Obaseki from Osadebe Avenue, Edo State Government House.
Osagie who decribed the exit of the Governor from APC as a good omen, tasked every member to work assidously for APC victory “because that is the only way to get back our Government that Obaseki gave away PDP with humongous amount of money”.
The former Minority Whip, after assurring the new members of equal treatment with the old ones, directed all party members to go to their units to sell the APC and its gubernatorial Candidate to the electorates with a view to winning the Election.
APC Local and ward Chairmen, Hon. Lawson Osarenren and Mr. Godwin Obamwonyi respectively commended the defectors for dumping their party for APC assuring them of better days ahead in the new APC government that will be enthroned come November 2020.
