Edo 2024: Harvest Of Decampees Hit PDP As Obaseki’s Ex-Commissioners, LP Members Join APC
By Simeon OSAJIE
Ahead of Edo 2024 Governorship election, the leading opposition Party; the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State has begun plotting its way back to Government House as Governor Obaseki former Commissioners with their followers from the PDP and many of the Labour Party (LP) faithful has decamped to APC in the State.
Leading the decampees is the former Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Efe Stewart and Andrew Enwanta also former Commissioner for Communication and Orientation. Others are Edo Aguebor, former women Leader, Madam Atairu and their followers.
The event took place on Friday, 29 October, 2023 at a Conference tagged: ‘Edo 2024: A Must Win for APC’ and powered by the Pius Alile Coalition Initiative in Benin City.
Addressing the gathering, President and Founder of the Coalition, Pius Alile reflected on the performance of the Governor Obaseki’s led PDP administration; concluding it was a failure and far from delivering the true dividends of democracy to the people of the State.
He asserts come 2024, the APC presents the much desired alternative as “the celebrated administration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole provided the Party, a benchmark to be proud of.”
Alile lambasting Obaseki and his PDP administration, stated: “Under the PDP Government, Edo State is in a nightmare that we must help break out from.”
He noted that the administration is tainted with unfilled promises many of which exists; only in the imagination of the Governor and cohorts.
“The Government continues to circulate computer generated images as renovated schools with false narratives in the social media to deceive the people. The reality is that many public schools are in pitiable conditions.
“They then came up with the grand delusion of Edobest in education. Sadly, their best is the worst that we have had in Edo State,” he positioned.
Alile further tackled the Governor for abandoning the ambitious water storm project of the Adams Oshiomhole administration, also the negative economic climate in the State which he noted, is due to the lack of deployment of proactive policies.
“The people are in dire need of of help, and the APC must come to their rescue by winning the Governorship election come 2024 governorship election and providing purposeful governance.”
Both former member and majority whip, House of Representatives, Hon. Samson Osagie, and Edoba Omoregie; a Professor of Comparative Constitutional Law and Governance delivered lecture on the theme of the Conference.
Osagie pointing out factors that had militated against the success of the APC in Edo especially, in the South zone, outlined actions expected of the Party to be able to regain relevance and reclaim the State next year.
Beyond the fantasy of reclaiming the State next year, “lies the incredible task of fielding the right candidate, adopting an all inclusive party and election management strategy amongst many others”, Osagie advised.
Like Osagie, Prof. Edoba dwelt on the need of the APC to seriously do SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis of its chances against other contending political Parties.
He pointed out that “there is no guarantee of victory for any of the political parties as the State fits into the description of a battle ground, where anything can happen. This is even more so, with the entry of a third force political Party.”
Alile, Osagie and Edoba unanimously advised that the APC leadership must conduct free, fair and transparent primary; and Congress as the foundation to the victory, it seeks.
Welcoming the decampees to the APC fold, former Edo State Deputy Governor, Pius Odubu who represented Senator Adams Oshiomhiole encouraged them to feel comfortable as there is no new and old member in the Party.
Also in attendance, was the national women Leader of the Party, Mrs. Mary Alile as well as Senator Monday Okpebholo (Akpakomiza) representing the Edo Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly.
