An ex-speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Francis Okiye, has rejoined the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while declaring that in a democracy, votes matter.

Okiye rejoined APC on Sunday, May 19, at a massive rally in Edo Central Senatorial District, with thousands of his teeming supporters also moving to APC in Esan West, Esan Central, Esan Northeast, Esan Southeast and Igueben Local Government Areas in Esanland.

The former speaker resigned his membership of the PDP on May 10, 2024, while assuring that he would announce his next political move in the coming days.

He said: “Many politicians from PDP and Labour Party (LP) joined the APC on Sunday in Esanland. Prior to today (yesterday), we met, discussed and asked Governor Godwin Obaseki-led PDP government in Edo State to address the issues of alienation, disillusionment, high-handedness and despotic tendencies.

“Nothing was done about our requests. So, we the ‘aborigines’ in PDP decided to give Obaseki-led PDP a red card.

“My movement to APC will help the party. In a democracy, votes matter. So, my exit from PDP is a minus to the party, whether anybody likes to interpret it otherwise or not. If they are democrats, they will know that at least they have lost my vote, not to talk of many others that moved with me to APC.

“We will begin the house-to-house campaign soon, and let people know why they must leave PDP and join the APC. They must vote APC’s governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, that is humane, and not business people who are in the state to make profit.”

Okiye also declared that Edo PDP’s standard bearer, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, was no match for Okpebholo, a grassroots popitician, whom he said would emerge victorious on September 21, and succeed Obaseki on November 12 this year.

Akpakomiza2:
I feel pity for pdp.i just learnt that they just called an emergency meeting over the Gale of defections

Ofunaofu:


I feel pity for APC because these so called defections won't make Okpebholo, an individual who failed WAEC at 36 to become governor.

slivertongue:
transfer season for jobless folks

Akpakomiza2:


You are pained because it is not favouring your dear party

slivertongue:


garfield1 how i am painted? am not a constestant or an electorate there.

Akpakomiza2:


It will sir except you do not understand politics

Akpakomiza2:


How can you call a whole ex speaker jobless? I am very sure you wouldn't do that if they were going to your darling PDP.

Ofunaofu:

And how do you understand politics

Akpakomiza2:



Upon all your years in this section,you still can't analyse elections? Na wao

Ofunaofu:


Regarding this particular Edo state election, it has been analysed, PDP is winning Edo state

Akpakomiza2:


Who analysed it for pdp? Why not support your own labour party? Even the analysis conducted by obaseki shows APC winning

Akpakomiza2:


Who analysed it for pdp? Why not support your own labour party? Even the analysis conducted by obaseki shows APC winning

seanfer:


So you think a party that won 2 Senate seats out of 3.
Won the almost half of all House of reps seats in the state during 2023 will not win the upcoming election.
Remember APC won all those without this defections.
I can't understand your political analysis, except you're letting emotions override your analyst.

Ofunaofu:


I am not a card carrying member of labour party

Akpakomiza2:


You behave like one.you support obi and lp staunchly so remain with anything Lp

Melagros:
COMRADES, apc no dey go anywhere for Edo State. Is the Edolites no dey suffer for 9ja?

Ofunaofu:


I support Obi as a person not labour party

Akpakomiza2:


Forget about Edo.obi as a person supports Akpata

Akpakomiza2:


Obaseki failed in Edo

seanfer:


So you think a party that won 2 Senate seats out of 3.
Won the almost half of all House of reps seats in the state during 2023 will not win the upcoming election.
Remember APC won all those without this defections.
I can't understand your political analysis, except you're letting emotions override your analyst.

Ofunaofu:


Well, that's his choice

I as a person supports the PDP in this Edo state election

Okoroawusa:
As a ruling party, all is not well with PDP in Edo state

Ofunaofu:


I am not a card carrying member of labour party

Akpakomiza2:


I am analyzing an APC win na

seanfer:

So you think a party that won 2 Senate seats out of 3.
Won the almost half of all House of reps seats in the state during 2023 will not win the upcoming election.
Remember APC won all those without this defections.
I can't understand your political analysis, except you're letting emotions override your analyst.