From Moshood Karim
Senator representing Edo South Senatorial District, Neda Imasuen, has officially defected from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC.
The announcement was made during a Democracy Day event held at the Government House in Benin City, where top APC leaders and State government officials gathered to welcome the senator into the ruling party.
Senator Imasuen, who was elected under the Labour Party platform, said his defection was the result of developmental strides achieved by the State government and the progress made by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
“This decision is borne out of a commitment to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policies and to contribute meaningfully to the progress of Edo State under Governor Monday Okpebholo,” Imasuen stated.
The senator expressed gratitude to the APC leadership in the State for receiving him warmly, pledging to work tirelessly to strengthen the party. “From today onwards, together, we shall work to make this party even stronger and better,” he said.
Receiving the senator, Governor Okpebholo described the defection as a significant moment in the State’s political history. “Today, history is made. The only senator from the opposition in Edo has joined the ruling party. We were colleagues in the Senate and shared progress reports regularly. Now, he is home,” the governor said.
He added that a more elaborate ceremony would soon be held to formally celebrate the senator’s defection.
The event also doubled as the State’s Democracy Day celebration, during which Governor Okpebholo outlined key achievements of his administration, particularly in the area of security. According to him, over 2,500 security personnel have been trained and deployed across the state to combat kidnapping and cult-related activities.
“We have flushed out kidnappers from key areas and drastically reduced cultism. These are not just political statements — they are deliberate, strategic actions with real-life impact,” the governor declared.
He reaffirmed his commitment to building “a new Edo” — a State that protects its citizens and delivers tangible results. “We are no longer in the shadows. We are rising. With your support, Edo State will not just remain the heartbeat of the nation — it will become the standard,” he said.
Other dignitaries present at the event included Deputy Governor Hon. Dennis Idahosa, APC State Chairman Jarrett Tenebe, and prominent party leaders such as Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Senator Mathew Uroghide, among others.
In his remarks, Tenebe congratulated Nigerians on 26 years of uninterrupted democracy and accused the previous administration under former Governor Godwin Obaseki of anti-democratic tendencies. He referenced the controversial refusal to swear in 14 elected lawmakers during Obaseki’s tenure.
Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, also praised the governor for his inclusive leadership, assuring that the House would continue to work with the executive to fulfil promises made to Edo people.
Senator Uroghide, a veteran of the June 12 democratic struggle, used the occasion to remind attendees of the State’s long-standing contribution to Nigeria’s democratic evolution. “Edo people have always played a pivotal role in this country’s political direction,” he said.
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