By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Edo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP has insisted that it is not in anyway worried or surprised at the decision the House of Assembly Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, to join the All Progressive Congress, APC .
This is just as it debunked claims that 17 out of the State’s 18 elected Council chairmen defected ,along side the Speaker to the APC
It would be recalled that the Speaker who was elected on the platform of the PDP on Tuesday May 6, formally, defected to the APC, alongside 17 out of the State’s 18 Local Council Chairmen and some lawmakers according to the APC.
But reacting to the development on Thursday, the Edo State PDP Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, noted that Agbebaku, long before his final departure had been working for the APC.
He expressed shock that the APC will be celebrating the defection of person who worked tirelessly for them before now.
According to the PDP Chairman, the defected Speaker worked closely with Governor Monday Okpebholo to suspend duly elected council chairmen from his own party the PDP.
“Tuesday’s stage-managed fanfare in Benin City was not news .It was merely the official coronation of what had become a public secret.
“For months, Speaker Agbebaku, served the interests of the APC in both conduct and alliance .What played out was nothing more than a desperate spectacle designed to impress the President and APC national leadership –an illusion worthy of a David Copperfield performance.
“Let it be remembered that under Agbebaku’s leadership ,and in collaboration with Governor Monday Okpebholo ,and Edo APC ,duly elected Local Government Chairmen ,were illegally suspended.
“Despite the expiry of that unconstitutional suspension, Agbebaku refused to reinstate them, acting with clear partisan bias.
“If ever there was evidence of his political affiliation ,this was it.
“Speaker Agbebaku’s formal alignment with the APC is a text book case of political opportunism, motivated not by ideology, or conviction but by personal ambition ,and self preservation.
“While the APC cerebrate this, we in the PDP remain unperturbed . Men who stand for nothing will always fall for anything.
“Even more laughable is the APC’s claim that 17 council chairmen have defected to their party .This is pure fiction .We challenge the APC to name a single duly elected PDP Chairman ,who has defected.
“The truth is that what they parade are political appointees and stooges illegally imposed on the councils – Governor Okpebholo’s hirelings ,not the peoples elected representatives.
“We dare Governor Okpebholo to release the names of the Council Chairmen that defected”, the PDP Chairman stated .
Chief Aziegbemi described the entire defection story as part of a wider strategy by the APC to create a false lnarrative of political dominance in Edo state .
He, however, noted that ,Edo people are not persuaded by such public spectacle and theatrics .
He reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the PDP to the pursuit of justice, with a view to reclaiming its stolen mandate.
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