The People Democratic Party (PDP) received at least 2,100 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP) on Saturday in Auchi, Edo State.
Onasa Momoh, Edo North Senatorial Chairman of LP, who led defectors from the party, said they were joining the PDP because it was an all-inclusive party.
Momoh said that the entire structure of the LP in the senatorial district was collapsed to enable the members join the PDP.
He explained that the LP had in the past worked in alliance with the APC but stated that the alliance had to end as the party never kept to any agreement reached.
He decried the victimisation, harassment, humiliation, and the deprivation of LP members’ right during last election in the state.
“We must put an end to cartels and individuals who have perfected the culture of greed and selfishness. We have chosen to join a party that is focused on creating jobs within a moral economy, a party that responds to the needs of the vulnerable,” he said.
Similarly, Chief Lance Momodu, who led the APC members that decamped, said they were PDP members who went on sabbatical.
The former APC chieftain said they went to APC to give opportunity to Gov. Oshiomhole to lead because of his desire to lead and promise of change “but he has failed us”.
“Instead of one man, one vote, what we are experiencing is one man, no vote. APC is disorganised and running a one man show and also playing the politics of exclusiveness,” he said.
Receiving the defectors, the state PDP Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, described the defection ‘historic’ because the event was happening in the Local Government Area of the present governor.
He said that the decision was a blessing to the defectors as they had resolved to join hands with the party to fight what he described as “oppression”.
