The Lawmaker representing Esan Central Constituency in Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Sabore Edoror has decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with six thousand, two hundred and thirty supporters cutting across the ten wards in the Local Government.
Edoror who was elected to the Assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at a defection rally held in Irrua, headquarters of the Local Government, on Saturday, said he and his supporters decided to join the APC “because of the intimidating developmental strides of the Comrade Governor” stressing that “the record is such that PDP can no longer campaign anywhere in Edo State as they have nothing to show for the years they were in government.”
Edoror reeled out the names of six thousand, two hundred and thirty of his supporters who were moving with him to the APC from across the ten wards.
The decamping lawmaker vowed to continuously deliver his constituency for APC in all subsequent elections in the state and pledged his unalloyed loyalty to the leadership of the APC in the state even as he promised to key into development agenda of Governor Oshiomhole.
On his part, Governor Adams Oshiomhole while addressing the mammoth crowd of decampees and APC faithful said “today, God has brought us together to consolidate the liberation of the great people of Esan Central, Edo Central, Edo State and by the Grace of God, the great people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He said: “when I hear the PDP talk that after Oshiomhole, they will capture Edo back, I ask, ‘is Edo a goat that must be captured?’ In 2007 PDP stole the peoples’ mandate, I battled with them with your support and by the Grace of God, the mandate was restored”.
Oshiomhole noted that in April 14 2013, PDP was defeated in the eighteen Local Government Areas of Edo state, adding that the source of his strength was not in empty talk but in action.
According to him “the only reason why I am in government is to show that PDP has been stealing and the only way to show that they have been stealing is to work. People ask me where the money is coming from, simple they have been stealing the money”, he explained.
He lamented that since 1999 PDP has done nothing to improve the lot of the people, but to further compound the problem of unemployment and poverty among the citizenry, stressing that the party is synonymous to Poverty Development.
The Governor noted that “our people must refuse to be deceived. We have come to stay as APC. As we speak, there are 16 governors with APC.
He assured the people of Esan Central Local Government that with the coming of the lawmaker into the party, APC will drive other animals from the bush.
Highpoint of the decamping was the formal handing over of APC flag and broom to Hon. Edoror and his supporters by Comrade Oshiomhole.
The lawmaker’s colleagues in the State Assembly including the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe, Majority Leader, Hon. Phillip Shaibu and top party chieftains including Dr. Tony Omoaghe, Chief Francis Inegbeneki and Mr. Frank Arewele were among those at the rally.