Ex-Gubernatorial Candidate In Edo Defects From APC With 1,000 Supporters To PDP

A former gubernatorial candidate of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party, ANPP, in Edo State, Solomon Edebiri, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with 1, 000 of his supporters. Addressing a rally in Benin on Thursday, Mr. Edebiri said that his defection to PDP was done after a careful reflection. He said that his decision became necessary against the background of the way the APC was being administered in the state. He said the APC is built on deceit and will only destroy the hopes and aspirations of the people in the state. He said that what took place during the last local government congress in the state negated his values on democracy. “I saw the erosion of the principles of the agreement which we all swore to uphold few months earlier while preparing for the merger”, he said. “The other reasons why I am dumping the APC include the
lack of internal democracy as well as the imposition of candidates during the congresses”, he added. “The Interim Executives of the party were single handedly picked by Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo”, he said. The former gubernatorial candidate explained that all efforts aimed at resolving the issues failed. The PDP Chairman in Edo, Dan Orbih, said the defection of the former gubernatorial candidate marked the beginning of the fall of APC in the state. Mr. Orbih claimed that Mr. Oshiomhole, who gained power as a labour activist, was now working against the interest of workers in the state. He said that while workers all over the world were celebrating Workers’ Day, their counterparts in Edo were lamenting their plight.