From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, said it finds it laughable and comical that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would roll out the drums to celebrate the “defection” of Blessing Agbebaku, Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, when in truth, Agbebaku has long operated as a covert APC loyalist.
Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, while addressing journalists, challenged Governor Monday Okpebholo to name any elected council chairman who defected with Agbebaku.
“Tuesday’s stage-managed fanfare in Benin City was not news; it was merely the official coronation of what had become a public secret. For months, Agbebaku has served the interests of the APC in both conduct and allegiance. What played out was nothing more than a desperate spectacle designed to impress the President (Bola Tinubu) and APC national leadership—an illusion worthy of a David Copperfield performance.
“Let it be remembered that under Agbebaku’s leadership, and in collaboration with Monday Okpebholo and the Edo APC, duly elected local government council chairmen, overwhelmingly PDP members, were illegally suspended. Despite the expiration of that unconstitutional suspension, Agbebaku refused to reinstate them, acting with clear partisan bias. If ever there was evidence of his real political affiliation, this was it.
“Agbebaku’s formal alignment with the APC is a textbook case of political opportunism-motivated not by ideology or conviction, but by personal ambition and self-preservation. While the APC celebrates this, we in the PDP remain unbothered. Men who stand for nothing will always fall for anything.
“Even more laughable is the APC’s claim that 17 council chairmen have defected to their party. This is pure fiction. We challenge the APC to name a single duly elected PDP chairman who has defected. The truth is that what they parade are political appointees and stooges illegally imposed on the council’s-Okpebholo’s loyal hirelings, not the people’s elected representatives. We dare Okpebholo to release the names of the Council Chairmen that defected.”
Aziegbemi explained that the charade is part of a broader strategy by the APC to create a false narrative of political dominance in Edo State, adding that the people of Edo are politically astute and cannot be deceived by such theatrics.
He urged the people of the state to endure this holocaust period, saying that joy is coming.
“The PDP remains focused, undeterred, and unwavering in its commitment to justice. We are pursuing all legal avenues to reclaim our stolen mandate from the brazenly manipulated September 2024 governorship election.
“To our members and supporters and indeed Edolites: remain resolute. Stay focused, united, and strong. Do not be distracted by the desperation of those who put personal gain above public good,” Aziegbemi solicited.
Asked why the PDP failed to check Agbebaku’s anti-party activities when it noticed it, Aziegbemi explained that the party engaged its members in the House of Assembly including Agbebaku many times and pleaded with them to remain in the party. “But maybe my efforts were not good enough to keep him. I take responsibility for that.”