By Jethro Ibileke
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Edo has debunked an alleged claim by the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, that all elected councillors have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Caretaker Committee Publicity Secretary of the party, Chris Nehikhare, stated this in a statement Thursday night, stated that all dully elected Councillors in the State are intact and remain members of the party.
Nehikhare alleged that the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, is parading impostors to con President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the APC.
“The duly elected local government councillors in Edo State have reaffirmed their unwavering loyalty to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), debunking claims that they have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The Councilors representing the 18 local government areas of the State, converged at the PDP Secretariat in Benin City, on Thursday, to restate their commitment to the party, describing the recent defection claims as a ploy by Senator Monday Okpebholo to deceive the public, the President, and the APC leadership.
“They were received at the party secretariat by the Chairman of the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, Dr Anthony Aziegbemi; Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Henry Duke Tenebe; Chris Osa Nehikhare; Hon Harrison Omagbon, Princess Mrs Philomena Ihenyen and former Commissioner for Roads and Bridges, Ethan Uzamere, among other party leaders,” Nehikhare said.
Also speaking, the State chairman of the party, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, who received the Councilors numbering 172, noted that those paraded by Okpebholo yesterday as decamped legislatures were not the duly elected councillors but impostors handpicked by Okpebholo to deceive the President and the APC leadership, noting that all duly elected local government councillors on the platform of the PDP in Edo State are fully intact.
He said: “The INEC-select governor, Okpebholo is throwing money into the system, as much as ₦10 million each to influence the decamping of our councillors and at this meeting today, in spite of the huge amount of money these councillors are being wooed with, we have at least 172 of them here who have come to reaffirm their loyalty to the party.
“We want to unequivocally state that all councillors elected on the platform of the PDP are fully with us and their conscience can’t be bought with money. That is why they are here today.”
He added, “So, we are asking who were those being paraded yesterday by Okpebholo as the Acting Chairmen who have joined their party if not the impostors he hired to deceive the President and the leadership of his party to paint a false picture showing that he is in control, whereas he has completely lost grip of the political reins in Edo State.”
He, however, reassured that with the documentary evidence presented by the Party at the Tribunal, the judiciary will right the wrong of September 21, 2024, and return the mandate of the PDP and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, which was duly given to them by the people of Edo State, charging the councillors and other party faithful to remain united in their resolve and loyalty to the party.
In their various remarks, the Councilors accused Mr Okpebholo of orchestrating illegal impeachments and superintending the extermination of constitutional democracy in the State, maintaining that the purported suspension and impeachment of duly elected council chairmen and their deputies were unconstitutional, null and void, and a blatant disregard for due process.
The statement quoted the leader of Oredo Legislative Arm, Harrison Izekor, saying: “We have decided to follow Asue Ighodalo and the PDP till the very end and nothing will change it. We are united and strong and are confident that we will emerge victorious in the end. Our loyalty to the party remains unshaken.”
Harrison further alleged that “Governor Okpebholo has cut off the salaries and allowances of him and his fellow councillors, in addition to seizing his official car, while offering them as much as ₦10 million each to defect to the APC. He, however, reassured that they remain committed to their party and will not betray it, no matter the inducement and intimidation.”
On his part, the leader of the legislative arm of Esan West Local Council, Collins Idiakheua, reaffirmed that he and other Councilors in the LGA have not decamped and remain intact.
“The leaders of the legislative arm in all the 18 local government councils spoke along the same line. They pledged their loyalty and support to PDP,” he said.
The statement noted that others present at the event were duly elected local government Chairmen and their Vice, who also debunked the news of their defection, reassuring that their loyalty to the PDP, remained unshaken.