Probably to avoid being impeached by the legislative arms of their councils, the local government chairmen of Owan West and Ovia South-West Local Government Areas, Dickson Ahonsi and Edosa Enowoghomenma, respectively, have defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
DAILY POST reports that eight councillors, including the Leader of the House, Nosakhare Edobor, defected along with the Ovia South-West Council chairman, while five defected alongside Dickson Ahonsi in Owan West.

While the chairman of Ovia South-West Local Government defected to the APC party secretariat in the locality and was received by the local government party chairman, Emmanuel Ogbomo, the Owan West chairman and councillors defected to the state secretariat of the party in Benin City, where they were received by the Edo APC State Secretary, Lawrence Okah.

Receiving the defectors, Ovia South-West APC Chairman Emmanuel Ogbomo assured them that they would not regret joining the ruling party in the state.

“There is nothing new about what you are doing today. I was in the PDP for 20 years before I left, and now I am the Local Government Area Chairman of the party, which means that in APC, everybody is treated equally, and you will not regret your action. We will join to protect you and your office,” he said.

Earlier, Ovia South-West Council Chairman Enowoghomenma said:
“We have thought it wise to pitch our tents with the APC in Ovia South-West LGA to work harmoniously with our governor, Distinguished Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Governor of Edo State, and our very own son, Hon Dennis Idahosa.

“As the council chairman, it will do our people in Ovia South-West no good if we do not work in tandem with the deputy governor and the governor of Edo State. Hence, we all agreed to come and join the APC today to further put our house together and develop our local government.”

On his part, Leader of the House Edobor said: “I am happy with my other colleagues in the Ovia South-West legislative arm to join forces and ensure that there is development in Ovia South-West.

“The reason why we are in politics is to ensure that Ovia South-West is taken to an enviable height. So we are here today; we are not under duress. We are here to join the ruling party in the state to bring about renewed hope to our people. The essence of being in politics is to bring development.”

While also receiving the chairman of Owan West Local Government Area, Dickson Ahonsi, and five councillors into the party, Edo State APC Secretary Lawrence Okah said the door of the party is open to receive more defectors.

He said to them: “We have long been expecting you to join us. APC now has five councillors, and more will come. Use this broom to mobilise other people to join the party.”

Dickson Ahonsi, who had already been suspended by the legislative arm of the council, said the decision to join APC was influenced by the steps taken so far by Governor Monday Okpebholo to develop the state.

“Today, we intend to join the APC because of what the governor is doing. Firstly, his activities since assuming office have included making important appointments, unlike the previous government. The list of commissioners will soon be released, and it is a welcome development.

“The projects he has embarked upon show clearly that Edo is in safe hands, and that is why we are here to join hands with him,” he said.

DAILY POST reported that the gale of impeachments of elected council chairmen, and deputies, and suspension of some legislators has dominated the political space of Edo State since the State House of Assembly suspended the 18 council chairmen and deputies for two months over alleged insubordination and gross misconduct.

The Edo Assembly, however, ordered the leaders of the legislative arm of each council to take over the administration of the affairs of the council while the chairmen and deputies were on suspension.

In the course of enforcing the order, chairmen and their deputies in local governments such as Owan East, Egor, Uhunmwonde, Orhionmwon, Esan Central, and others were impeached.

Some legislative leaders, who were seen as threats to the enforcement of the order, were suspended, thereby paving the way for the installation of legislators to take over the affairs of their respective councils.

Dickson Ahonsi of Owan West respectively.

While the chairman of Ovia South-West Local Government defected in the APC party secretariat in the locality and received by the local government party chairman Emmanuel Ogbomo, the Owan West chairman and councillors defected at the state secretariat of the party in Benin City.

The Owan West chairman and local government legislators were received by the State secretary of the party, Engineer, Lawrence Okah.

Receiving the defectors, the Ovia South West chairman of the party, Emmanuel Ogbomo assured them that they would not regret joining the ruling party in the state.

“There is nothing new about what you are doing today, I was in the PDP for 20 years before I left and now I am the Local Government Area chairman of the party which means that in APC everybody is treated equally and you will not regret your action, we will join to protect you and your office”,he said.

Earlier, the Ovia South West council chairman, Enowoghomenma said they decided to join APC to support Governor Monday Okpebholo and their son, the deputy governor, Hon Dennis Idahosa to develop the state.

Enowoghomenma, which was presented with the paraphernalia of the party, said they thought wise to join hands with their son who is a deputy to move the state forward.

“We have thought it wise to pitch tents with the APC in Ovia South West LGA, to work harmoniously with our governor, Distinguished Sen Monday Okpebholo, the governor of Edo State and our very own, our son,Hon Dennis Idahosa.

“Hon Dennis is not a stranger to all of us, we know him and he is a blessing to the Ovia South West.

“As the council chairman, it will do our people, Ovia South West no good if we would not work in tandem with the deputy governor and the governor of Edo state hence we all agree to come and join him in the APC today and further put our house together to develop our local government”,he added.

On his part, Leader of the House, Hon Edobor said they were not under duress but took the decision for the interest of the local government area.

“I am happy with my other colleagues of the Ovia South West legislative arm to join forces and ensure that there is development in the Ovia South West.

“The reason why we are in politics is to ensure that Ovia South West is taken to an enviable height. So we are here today, we are not under duress, we are here to join the ruling party in the state to bring about the renewed hope to our people. The essence of being in politics is to bring development”,he stated.

Also receiving the Chairman of Owan Local Government Area, Hon Dickson Ahonsi and five Councilors into the party, the State Secretary of the party, Lawrence Okah, said the doors of the party is open to receive more defectors .

According to him, we have long been expecting you to join us . APC now has five Councilors and more will come. Use this broom to mobilize other people to join the party.

Speaking, earlier, Dickson Ahonsi, who had already been suspended by the legislative arm of the council,
said the decision to join the APC was influenced by the steps taken so far by Governor Monday Okpebholo to develop the state.

Ahonsi, posited that “today we intend to join the APC today because of what the governor is doing . Firstly, his activities on the assumption of office have made important appointments unlike the previous government. Soon the list of commissioners will soon be released and it is a welcome development.

“The projects that he has embarked upon shows clearly that Edo is in safe hands and that is why we are here to join hands with him”,he said.

DAILY POST reported that the gale of impeachments of elected Council chairmen, deputies and suspension of some legislators have took over the political space of Edo State since the State House of Assembly suspended the 18 council chairmen and deputies for two months over alleged insubordination and gross misconduct.

The house, however, ordered the leaders of the legislative arm of each of the council to take over the administration of the affairs of the council for the period the embattled chairmen and deputies would be on suspension.

In the course of enforcement of the ordered, chairmen and their deputies in local governments like Owan East, Egor, Uhunmwonde, Orhionmwon, Esan Central and among others have been impeached.

Some legislative leaders, who were seen as threats for the enforcement of the order were suspended thereby paving the way for the installation of a legislator to take over the affairs of the respective council.

Edo: Two council chairmen, 13 councillors defected to APC