A former two-time Senator from Edo South, Matthew Uhroghide and former clerk of the House of Representatives and candidate for the Owan Federal Constituency in the 2023 election, Patrick Giwa, along with eight ex-council chairmen and vice-chairmen on Saturday defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) at an event in Benin City.
Uhroghide, who was a senator for Edo South from 2015 to 2019, expressed his delight at returning to the fold of mature politicians, a party, in whose leaders he trusts and has confidence.
He also assured the party that he has returned to help build it and enthrone its candidates in the 2024 Edo governorship election.
The former APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, praised Uhroghide’s experience and nominated him as the party’s director-general for the upcoming Edo State governorship election campaign team, a position which he accepted.
Oshiomhole also described Uhroghide as a robust, resourceful, and dogged politician whose wealth of experience would have a great impact on the party’s chances of success.
Other defectors included eight ex-council chairmen and vice-chairmen under the present PDP administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki. Speaking on behalf of the defected councilors, Hon Elvis Ibadin told Uptown Press that there is nothing like HOME, indicating that their move to the APC is the right decision for them.
Hon Prince Saturday, who was welcomed to the party by the APC State chairman, Jarrete Tenebe, in an interview with Uptown Press expressed his readiness to deliver on the mandate of Senator Monday Okpebholo, who is the party’s flag bearer.
The defectors were officially received by political heavyweights of the APC in Edo State, including Senator Adams Oshiomhole and party executives, who all expressed their optimism and readiness to work together to ensure the party’s success during the governorship election in September 2024.
