Momoh Umar Momoh
The leadership of the Edo State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has asserted that the defection of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, to the All Progressives Congress ( APC) was a desperate spectacle designed to impress President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Dr Tony Aziegbemi, the Caretaker committee Chairman of the party in the state also added that it was geared to impress the national leadership of APC.
Aziegbemi made the assertion at a press briefing on Thursday in Benin City while reacting to the defection of Blessing Agbebaku, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly alongside two other members of the party to APC in Benin City on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
“The Edo State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) finds it laughable indeed and comical that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would roll out the drums to celebrate what it calls the “defection” of Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, when in truth, Agbebaku has long operated as a covert APC loyalist.
“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 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 councils—Okpebholo’s loyal hirelings, not the people’s elected representatives”, he said.
Aziegbemi, however, dared Governor Monday Okpebholo to release the names of the Council Chairmen that defected along with the speaker and the other lawmakers.
He posited that the defection is part of a broader strategy by the APC to create a false narrative of political dominance in Edo State.
While noting that the people of the state are politically astute and cannot be deceived by such theatrics, he, however, reassured Edolites that they should endure “this holocaust period, for joy is coming.
He also stated that the party 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 we urged you all to remain resolute, stay focused, united, and strong, and not be distracted by the alleged desperation of those who put personal gain above public goods”, he stated.
The press conference was attended by the six PDP lawmakers that are yet to be defected.
The lawmakers are Charity Airobarueghian Ighodalo, Minority Leader, Ovia North- East I, Andrew Uzamere, Ovia North- East II, Maria Edeko, Deputy Speaker, Esan North- East II, Eugene Inegbeboh Ojie, Igueben and Natasha Osawaru Irobosa, Egor.
The press conference statement is titled, “APC’s Celebration of Agbebaku’s “Defection” is Comical and Misleading”.
