BENIN CITY: Scores of opposition politicians on Saturday defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Iguobazuwa, Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State, boosting the party’s mobilisation drive ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The defection took place in the local government area of the Deputy Governor, Mr Dennis Idahosa. The defectors cited what they described as good governance under Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration, less than two years into office.
Speaking at the event, Idahosa said politics was about fulfilling campaign promises, adding that the growing acceptance of the APC reflected public confidence in the policies of both the state and federal governments.
He urged party members, both old and new, to key into President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by registering on the APC e-registration portal to validate their membership.
According to him, the new members would contribute significantly to the party’s target of delivering 2.5 million votes for President Tinubu in Edo State during the 2027 presidential election.
“We should return to our units and continue to preach the Renewed Hope Agenda to our people,” Idahosa said.
He reminded the defectors that the e-registration portal would close on January 30 and stressed that possession of a registration slip was required to enjoy full party rights within the party.
Idahosa also commended the Chairman of Ovia South-West Local Government, Mr Nosakhare Edobor, for opening up rural communities and executing development projects that encouraged residents to join the APC.
The APC Chairman in the local government, Mr Emmanuel Ogbomo, urged the new members to take advantage of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise to enable full participation in future elections.
Other party leaders present at the event included the Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Mr Amadin Enabulele, a member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Sunny Aghedo, and other APC stakeholders.
