The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has reacted with indifference to the defection of the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as driven by “personal ambition and self-preservation.”
Speaking at a press conference in Benin City on Thursday, the State Caretaker Committee Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, said Agbebaku’s defection — along with those of two other lawmakers, Yekini Idaiye (Akoko-Edo I) and Sunday Fada Eigbiremonlen (Esan Central) — was not surprising, as the Speaker had long operated as a “covert APC loyalist.”
Aziegbemi said Tuesday’s defection event in Benin City was a “stage-managed fanfare” designed to impress President Bola Tinubu and the APC national leadership, likening it to “an illusion worthy of a David Copperfield performance.”
“The Edo State PDP finds it laughable, even comical, that the APC would roll out the drums to celebrate the defection of Speaker Agbebaku, who has for months served the interests of the APC in both conduct and allegiance,” he said.
The PDP chairman alleged that under Agbebaku’s leadership, and in collaboration with Governor Monday Okpebholo, PDP-controlled local government councils were illegally suspended. He claimed that even after the suspension expired, Agbebaku refused to reinstate the officials, “acting with clear partisan bias.”
“This formal alignment with the APC only confirms what was already apparent. It is a textbook case of political opportunism — not motivated by ideology, but by self-interest,” Aziegbemi added.
He also dismissed claims that 17 local government chairmen had defected to the APC, challenging the ruling party to publish the names of any duly elected PDP chairman who had switched allegiance.
“What the APC parades as defectors are nothing more than political appointees and stooges — loyal hirelings of Governor Okpebholo, not the people’s elected representatives,” he stated.
Aziegbemi accused the APC of orchestrating a broader scheme to fabricate a narrative of political dominance in Edo State, insisting that the people would not be deceived by what he called “cheap theatrics.”
He reaffirmed the PDP’s commitment to reclaiming what the party believes is its stolen mandate from the September 2024 governorship election.
“We urge our members and all Edolites to endure this holocaust period — joy is coming. We remain focused, united, and undeterred in our pursuit of justice,” he declared.
The press conference was attended by the six remaining PDP lawmakers in the House of Assembly: Charity Airobarueghian Ighodalo (Minority Leader, Ovia North-East I), Andrew Uzamere (Ovia North-East II), Maria Edeko (Deputy Speaker, Esan North-East II), Eugene Inegbeboh Ojie (Igueben), and Natasha Osawaru Irobosa (Egor).
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