By Joel Okwara
Ahead of the crucial September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State, the gale of defections from the state’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the opposition Progressives Congress (APC) continued at the weekend.
On Sunday, May 19, former National Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Felix Akhabue, aka Joefel, led hundreds of his supporters in the PDP in Esan West local government area of Edo State into the APC.
Mr Akhabue, who was one of the aggrieved governorship aspirants on the PDP platforn, galvanised his supporters to consummate a mass decampment that has sent shockwaves through the PDP camp in the local government area.
The decampees sang and danced, as they praised the APC governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo (APC, Edo Central).
Recall that some notable PDP leaders across the state had resigned from the party, with some already joining the APC, preparatory to the September 21 governorship poll.
Two of the chieftains of the PDP that defected recently include former Board of Trustees (BoT) member, Mr. Charles Idahosa, and former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), Rt Hon. Kabiru Adjoto.
Another ex-Speaker of the Assembly, Rt Hon. Francis Okiye, has decamped from the PDP, but hasn’t indicate yet which of the political parties fielding candidates for the election he would join.
