From Staff Writer
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State has vowed to initiate legal proceedings to unseat Kaycee Osamwonyi, the member representing Uhunmwode Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, following his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmaker’s defection, which comes just weeks after three other PDP-elected Assembly members crossed over to the APC, has ignited outrage among party leaders, who convened an enlarged meeting on Saturday in Benin City to deliberate on the issue. At the heart of the PDP’s objection is what it described as a betrayal of trust and a breach of the party’s mandate by Osamwonyi, who they say defected unilaterally without the consent or support of his constituents or party leadership.
Addressing the gathering, notable PDP figures including Richard Edebiri, a former Commissioner for Agriculture; Pedro Egharevba, a former Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki; and Dr Nosakhare Ehigie confirmed that consultations are ongoing with the PDP’s legal team. The objective, they revealed, is to declare Osamwonyi’s seat vacant in accordance with constitutional provisions and relevant sections of the Electoral Act.
The meeting, attended by PDP leaders and members from the 10 wards of Uhunmwode LGA, ended with a unanimous resolution to dissociate the party from Osamwonyi’s move, stressing that his action does not reflect the will or position of the PDP in the area. The party leadership maintained that its structure remains intact, cohesive, and unshaken despite the lawmaker’s departure.
Edo South PDP Senatorial District Leader, Etose Dickson Imasogie, speaking at the meeting, expressed dismay over Osamwonyi’s justification for defecting, which he claimed was based on alleged divisions within the PDP. Imasogie, however, rejected this claim outright.
“There is no division in the PDP. He (Kaycee) sought a nomination in the APC and was denied. It was the PDP that gave him a platform and supported him to victory. Now he claims we are divided. That excuse is flimsy and misleading. Every party has its internal disagreements, but that’s not the same as division,” Imasogie asserted.
Similarly, Timothy Osadolor, Deputy National Youth Leader of the PDP, condemned the defection as part of what he termed the ruling party’s strategy to destabilise the opposition through inducement and coercion.
“What we are witnessing is the APC’s desperation to corrupt elected officials and lure them into its fold. In Uhunmwode, we have one PDP structure, one party Secretariat, and one Caretaker Committee. There is no crisis here,” Osadolor declared.
He emphasised that the PDP has not sanctioned any of its elected representatives to defect or trade their political mandates for personal or financial gain, adding that the party remains focused on preserving its integrity and defending the will of the electorate.
The PDP’s firm stance signals a looming legal battle that could reshape the composition of the Edo State House of Assembly, where recent defections have given the APC a majority. It also underscores the deepening tensions between the two major political parties in the lead-up to future elections in the state.
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