The suspended chairmen of Owan West and Ovia South West local government areas of Edo State, Dickson Ahonsi and Edosa Enowoghomenma, respectively, on Friday, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Ahonsi defected with five councillors while Enowoghomenma joined with eight of his councillors.
The suspended Owan West LG chairman was received by members of the state executive of the party in Benin.
Ahonsi said his decision to join the APC was influenced by the steps taken so far by Governor Monday Okpebholo to develop the state.
He said, “I am to join the APC today because of what the governor is doing. Firstly, he has made important appointments unlike the previous government. The list of commissioners will soon be released and it is a welcome development.
“The projects that he has embarked upon showed clearly that that Edo is in safe hands and that is why I am here to join the party.”
Edo State Secretary of the APC, Lawrence Okah, while receiving the suspended chairman and the councillors into the party said the party’s door was open to receive more defectors.
In Ovia South West local government, Enowoghomenma and the eight elected councillors including the Leader of the House, Nosakhare Edobor, were received by the council’s chairman of the APC, Emmanuel Ogbomo.
Receiving the defectors, Ogbomo said, “There is nothing new about what you are doing today. I was in the PDP for 20 years before I left and now I am the LGA chairman of the party which means that in the APC, everybody is treated equally. You will not regret your action, we will join to protect you and your office.”
Speaking earlier, Enowoghomenma said he and others decided to join the APC to support Okpebholo and the Deputy Governor, and Dennis Idahosa, to develop the state.
