The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has vehemently denied claims by the Edo State Government that local government council chairmen have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The party dismissed the report as a desperate attempt by Governor Monday Okpebholo to mislead President Bola Tinubu and the APC leadership, asserting that all its elected officials remain loyal.
In a strongly worded statement, the PDP accused Governor Okpebholo of engaging in political theatrics, claiming he has completely lost his grip on the state’s political structure. According to the opposition party, the governor, realizing his diminishing influence, has resorted to assembling impostors to create the illusion of growing support within the APC.
“It is quite unfortunate and shameful that his situation has deteriorated to the point where he now has to parade political impostors while attempting to assure the President and the APC leadership that he remains in control. The reality, however, is that Okpebholo has lost significant political ground in Edo State,” the statement read.
The PDP further clarified that no legitimate council chairman elected under its platform has defected. The party specifically refuted the statement issued by Fred Itua, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okpebholo, labeling it as outright falsehood.
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“To set the record straight, not a single chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has defected. All duly elected local government chairmen under the PDP in Edo State remain intact. The so-called ‘chairmen’ mentioned in Itua’s statement are nothing but illegal appointees of Okpebholo, whom he is attempting to impose on local councils through the backdoor,” the PDP emphasized.
The party also dismissed the reported “defection event” at the Edo State Government House as mere political propaganda, staged to deceive President Tinubu and the APC leadership in Abuja.
“What happened today at the Festival Hall of Edo State Government House can best be described as a poorly executed political drama, designed solely for the viewing pleasure of Mr. President and APC leaders in Abuja. There have been no genuine political gains for Okpebholo or his party in Edo State, contrary to the misleading narrative they are trying to push,” the statement concluded.
