31st May, 2023
By Jethro Ibileke
The Senator representing Edo South District, Matthew Urhoghide, has dumped his party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Urhoghide who is a founding and loyal member of the party in the state, will complete his second tenure in the red chamber in about a week.
His resignation, which is contained in a letter sent to the press of the senate on Wednesday, might not be unconnected with his ambition to run in the governorship election of the state in 2024.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Account in the letter, however mentioned irreconcilable differences and squabbles within the PDP at the national level and in Edo State, as reasons for his exit.
“I write to formally inform you and entire member of the PDP that I am resigning my membership of the party, effective immediately.
“My decision arose out of the negative political energy emanating at the moment from the irreconcilable differences and squabbles within the PDP at the national level and especially in my dear state.
“These squabble have spiked to the level that have made it impossible for someone who is a confirmed democrat to function and grow as I envisaged in my political journey
“This letter is fulfilling the promise I made to the leader of the PDP that I will consult and inform formally when and if I decided to step out of the PDP.
“I am grateful to the party which yielded me the opportunity to achieve the mission of serving as a two-term Senator, which afforded me the opportunity to express my self and in a way that I have been able to affect my senatorial district,” he said.
Urhoghide noted that the opportunity has helped him to build lasting friendship within the national and state party hierarchy and at the Senate.
According to him, these friendship I shall draw on going forward, and above all imbibed in me knowledge and experience that I could not have gotten anywhere else.
Urhighide, however, solicited for prayer as he took the bold step in the belief that it was the purpose of the almighty God in his interference in the affairs of men.
Rumors, however, have it that the very respected and influential member of the PDP has been oiling his political machinery to contest for the gubernatorial ticket of the Labour Party (LP).
When contacted on his mobile phone for further inquiries, the very pro active federal lawmaker told our correspondent that he was still busy with activities in the red chamber.
It would be recalled that Urhoghide who attempted to get the PDP’s ticket to enable him contest the 25 February, 2023 senatorial election for the third term, lost out to Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, who eventually lost the election to the LP candidate, Neda Imasuen.
Unconfirmed report had it that Urhoghide had purchased the LP senatorial form for his then legislative aide, Neda Imasuen, as a second option to fall back to, should he miss the PDP ticket.
Somehow, Imasuen ran for the election on the LP platform and defeated candidates of the PDP, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen and Valentine Auen of the APC with a landslide.