In a major political shake-up ahead of the Edo governorship election, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, alongside 17 local government chairmen, dozens of councillors, and other top members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The high-profile defections took place on Monday during a well-attended ceremony in Benin City, where the defectors were formally received into the APC fold by the party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, and Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo.
The development is seen as a significant boost for the ruling APC as it consolidates its base ahead of the 2025 polls.
Speaking at the event, Governor Okpebholo described the mass defection as a “bold and patriotic step,” noting that the move reflects growing confidence in the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC’s agenda for progress.
“This is not just a win for the APC, it is a victory for democracy in Edo State,” he declared. “With this wave of new entrants, our resolve to deliver good governance has been further strengthened.”
The defectors cited internal divisions within the PDP and lack of direction as reasons for their departure, pledging full loyalty to their new party.
Political observers say the defections could tilt the balance of power in the state, which has been a key battleground in recent elections.
This is the second wave of high-profile defections in recent weeks, following a similar mass exodus from the PDP and Action Democratic Party (ADP) in Niger State.
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