Prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State have made a significant move by defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the lead-up to the state's governorship election. Among those who switched their allegiance were Arch Mike Onolememen, a former minister of works who had previously served under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, and Gideon Ikhine, an ex-governorship aspirant who withdrew his candidacy in favor of Governor Godwin Obaseki in 2020, as reported by The Punch.
The defection took place in Uromi at the headquarters of Esan North East Local Government Area and was orchestrated by General Cecil Esekhaigbe (retired), a prominent APC leader in the region. Esekhaigbe, in welcoming Onolememen and Ikhine on Monday, November 6, emphasized their political significance and described their decision to defect as a crucial step towards the APC's success, harkening back to their role in the party's victory during the 2014 governorship election in the state. He also asserted that the next governor would hail from their senatorial district, underlining the importance of their inclusion in the APC.
This development unfolds as Governor Godwin Obaseki nears the end of his second term in office and begins preparations for another gubernatorial election in the state, setting the stage for a highly competitive political landscape.
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