Governor Oshiomhole’s aide, others defect to PDP

Gov. Adams Oshiomhole

Gov. Adams Oshiomhole’s aide, Mr Agharese Idubor, on Wednesday led no fewer than 150 registered members of the APC in Benin to pitch their tents with the PDP.

Idubor is the Executive Director, Protocol Matters to the Governor.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defecting APC members are from Ward 7 in the Egor Local Government Area of Edo South Senatorial District.

Idubor, who spoke on behalf of the defecting members, said their decision to return to the PDP was borne out of the alleged political betrayal of the leadership of APC in the state at the ward congress in the state on Tuesday.

He argued that leadership positions should be attained through election and not by imposition “as was witnessed by APC members on Tuesday.’’ Idubor took a swipe at the leaders of the party in the state “whose roles in the just-concluded ward congress negated the principle of the one-man-one vote’’ policy of the party.

He said that leadership and governance were not about the acquisition of powers to oppress others “but to be used to better the lots of citizenry through people-oriented policies.’’

He pledged the loyalty of the new members to the leadership structure of PDP in the state, saying they were impressed with the existing internal democracy of the party in the state.

Idubor said they would strive to work for the party and ensure its victory in the general elections in 2015 and state governorship election in 2016.

Receiving the members, the Chairman of the PDP in Edo, Chief Dan Orbih, said that their decision to join the PDP was apt in view of the “APC’s shameful ward congress.’’

(NAN)