Over 3,000 members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Edo North defects to the People Democratic Party (PDP) during a campaign rally held at the Public Field in Auchi, Etsako West LGA of Edo State.
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, while receiving the defectors said the challenges the nation was facing were due to bad leadership before presenting all the candidates for various positions in the forthcoming general election to the people.
He said, “Edo North is the pillar of the PDP in Edo State. Edo is a special State and God gave us the best but we fail to utilize our opportunities. Things are bad and difficult in Nigeria because of bad leaders and the day we remove those bad leaders, Nigeria will become great.
“The process of removing bad leaders will commence on the 25th of February 2023. If we succeed, Nigeria will become great again. Atiku Abubakar is the next president of Nigeria because he has the experience, capacity, and knows what to do to move the nation forward.”
The governor said Atiku has promised to tackle youth unemployment and dualize the Benin/Auchi Road linking Edo North, Edo Central and Edo South within one year into his administration.
Obaseki added, “I appealed to him that within one year in office, he should help us fix and dualize the one road that connects Edo North, Edo Central and Edo South. He has promised to give me the money to work on the road. He is not a president yet and he is already making promises.”
Introducing the party’s candidates, Obaseki, noted, “Francis Alimikhena was not supported by Adams Oshiomhole that was why he lost the Deputy Senate seat to Omo-Agege from Delta State. Oshiomhole also wanted to team up with Kabiru Adjoto to remove me from office and because Adjoto refused, he started having problems with Oshiomhole.
“House of Assembly is 24/24. We did it before and can do it again. This set of representatives that we are presenting to you will not sell your mandate. They will not run away but work for you.”
On his part, the Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu said the campaign is a celebration of the PDP’s victory in the election, urging the people to use their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to actualize the victory.
He stated, “APC doesn’t have anything to show but feels that we are commodities that can be bought easily and cheaply. They are preparing to buy our votes but we need to prove to them that with our PVC, come February 25th, 2023, that we are not for sale.
PDP leader in Edo North, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, added, “I urge the people of Edo North to change the change as APC has lied to Nigerians and increased the suffering of the people. Nigerians are suffering and we will not want to continue with the suffering. So, PDP is the answer come 25th February 2023.”
