Mass Defection to Hit South South PDP, Okpebholo Reveals

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has declared that a wave of mass defections will soon hit opposition parties in the South-South region ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Governor Okpebholo made the statement on Saturday during a special reception held in his honor at Ewatto, Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State, following his victory at the election petition tribunal last week.

He expressed gratitude to the people of Edo for their support and prayers, assuring them that the state would witness significant progress under his leadership.

“The people of Edo State will not regret voting for me as their Governor. Today, I am proud to be in a winning party—the APC. A party once rejected is now the one everyone wants to join. The APC is here to stay, and soon, we will see a massive movement of members from the PDP, LP, and other opposition parties into our fold,” he said.

The Governor emphasised that the South-South region must unite under the APC to key into President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform agenda.

“I am proud to be a son of the President and to carry an uncommon grace for transformation. My words are prophetic, and I am using them to develop Edo State. We are working on improving road infrastructure, reducing travel time, and ensuring development extends to neighboring states,” he added.

Governor Okpebholo also recounted his journey into politics, stating that he initially had no interest in partisan politics but was compelled to run for office to bring development to Edo State.

“In 2021, we searched for an Esan man to contest for Senate under the APC but found none—everyone preferred the PDP. It was in 2022 that I was persuaded to run, and here we are today,” he said.

He vowed to address the challenges of poor water supply, citing the death of his sister due to contaminated water as a driving force behind his commitment to providing clean drinking water across the state.

During the visit, the Governor was received by traditional rulers, including HRH Osagie Sylvanus Ikhumen I, the Onojie of Ewatto, who offered prayers for the success of his administration.

Governor Okpebholo also inspected the ongoing construction of Chief Lee Ikpea’s Medical Center in Ewatto, commending the donor, Dr. Lemon Ikpea, for the initiative.