Deputy Director-General of the Governor Godwin Obaseki’s re-election Campaign Council in 2020, Gideon Ikhine, has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).
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Ikhine, in a letter to the Peoples Democratic Party (PPD) Chairman in his Ward 7 (Ukpenu/Ujolen/Emuhi), Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area, said it was a great honour to contribute to the growth and success of the PDP in the last 24 years, and recording outstanding results.
He said: “My commitment to the people of Ward 7, Esan-West council, and Edo people, remains firm and resolute to keep serving them in other capacity.”
Ikhine, who was the first governorship aspirant to step down for Obaseki in 2020, hinted that he would be joining the APC to realise his governorship aspiration next year. He restated his vision of leading Edo and its residents out of obscurity, while stressing that having worked for the APC in the last general elections, it would be wrong to continue to stay in the PDP. He hinted that he was taking 30 per cent of PDP members to the APC.
Ikhine also expressed displeasure that Obaseki and members of the PDP’s Legacy Group in Edo, led by the National Vice Chairman (Southsouth), Chief Dan Orbih, were still at loggerheads.
It was learnt that Ikhine and Obaseki agreed he would get right of first refusal in the September 2024 governorship election, but Governor Obaseki decided to support Asue Ighodalo, from the same Edo Central, as his successor.
In the last three weeks, three other chieftains of the PDP – Senator Matthew Urhoghide, Kenneth Imansuangbon and Adaeze Emwanta – have dumped the party.
Urhoghide told reporters that he had not decided which other political party to join, but Imansuangbon and Emwanta immediately moved to the Labour Party with Imansuangbon, who also stepped down for Obaseki in 2020.
Peoplesmind