Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, may soon dissolve his cabinet to get rid of those disloyal in the conflict in his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The rift, which showed up during the ward and council congresses, led some to defect with hundreds of their supporters to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Gov. Adams Oshiomhole
The defectors included Osagie Ize-Iyamu (former defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Vice Chairman); Tony Omoaghe (former state ACN Chairman); Usman Shagadi (Edo North Senatorial leader); and Isaiah Osifo (former Chief of Staff);
Others included Bright Omokhodion (former state Assembly Speaker); Razak Momoh (House of Representatives member, Etsako Federal Constituency); Solomon Edebiri (former governorship candidate); Senator Ehigie Uzamere (Edo South Senatorial District); Frank Erewele and Amos Osunbor (Edo South Senatorial leader).
Acknowledging the defections, Oshiomhole said “I am aware some people have left our party, we wish them safe journey. When I came, I was clear and I said we will work for the people of the state. I did not say I was going to work for individuals.
“So, if individuals feel angry that I have not helped them in what they call individual personal empowerment, I have the choice to make; work for individual or work for the people. I choose to work for the people.”
Suspecting that some of his cabinet members are sympathetic to the defectors, he intends to do a house cleaning to weed out saboteurs.
A source in Government House, who did not want his name in print, told TheNiche that Oshiomhole will “any moment from now flush out the loyalists to the defectors.”
But a defector explained that they changed camps “because we could not be detained in the APC when it was clear that the party in Edo State had been hijacked by a cabal who do not believe in free democratic participation.
“We are impressed with the leadership of the PDP in Edo State and we see the party as a more sincere, refined and better organised political platform.”
A number of defectors were said to have also resigned their appointments with the Edo State government.
Four state Assembly members, Ise-Idehen, Osayimen, Ogierhiakhi and Abdulrazak Momoh defected to the PDP, which now has eight lawmakers among the 24 in the legislature.
It was learnt that more APC legislators are planning to jump ship to give the PDP the majority in the Assembly.
However, state APC Publicity Secretary, Godwin Erhahon, said “Ize-Iyamu’s faction is greedy and thought they can blackmail Oshiomhole into submission, but by the grace of God, they have failed.
“Those who want to come back, we welcome whole heartedly but those who want to go, we grant them freedom. We also want to let them know that the PDP they are going to is not better.”
