SUSPENDED chairmen of Owan West and Ovia South West Local Government Areas, Dickson Ahonsi and Edosa Enowoghomenma, on Friday defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress in Edo State.
Ahonsi defected with five councillors while Enowoghomenma moved with eight of his councillors.
Ahonsi was received by members of the state executive of the party in Benin, the state capital.
He said his decision to join the APC was influenced by the steps taken so far by Governor Monday Okpebholo to develop the state.
The chairman and the five councilors were presented with brooms, the party’s symbol while saying he (Ahonsi) would ensure his other colleagues join the APC to give their support to the present administration.
He said, ”I am to join the APC today because of what the governor is doing. Firstly, he has made important appointments, unlike the previous government. The list of commissioners will soon be released and it is a welcome development.
“The projects that he has embarked upon show clearly that Edo is in safe hands and that is why I am here to join the party.”
Edo State Secretary of the APC, Lawrence Okah, while receiving the suspended chairman and the councillors into the party said the doors of the party were open to receive more decampees.
In Ovia South West Local Government, Enowoghomenma and the eight councillors including the Leader of the House, Nosakhare Edobor, were received by the council’s chairman of the party, Emmanuel Ogbomo, who said that they would not regret joining the ruling party in the state.
Ogbomo said, “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 LGA chairman of the party which means that in the APC, everybody is treated equally. You will not regret your action, we will join to protect you and your office.”
Speaking earlier before he was presented with the paraphernalia of the party, Enowoghomenma said they decided to join the APC to support Okpebholo and the deputy governor, Dennis Idahosa, to develop the state.
He said, “We have thought it wise to pitch a tent with the APC in Ovia South West LGA. We will work harmoniously with our governor, Sen Monday Okpebholo, and our son, Dennis Idahosa, the deputy governor. Idahosa is not a stranger to all of us, we know him and he is a blessing to Ovia South West.
“As the council chairman, it will do our people, Ovia South West no good if we do not work with the deputy governor and the governor. That is why we all agreed to join him in the APC and further put our house together to develop our local government.”
Edobor said they were not under duress to jump ship but took the decision in the interest of the local government area.