The lawmaker representing Esan South-East constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, Ojiezele Osezua Sunday, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.
Osezua, who was first elected on the APC platform in 2019, was among the 10 lawmakers inaugurated by former Governor Godwin Obaseki.
However, he later switched to the PDP, under which he was re-elected in the 2023 general elections.
In explaining his departure from the PDP, Osezua cited the ongoing internal crises within the party at both the state and national levels, describing his return to the APC as a “homecoming.”
The lawmaker, who represented PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo in the September 21, 2024 governorship election, also promised to bring more supporters back to the APC.
Upon his defection, Osezua was warmly received by APC Acting State Chairman Jarret Tenebe, along with members of the state executive council. Tenebe expressed confidence that more opposition members would join the APC in the near future.
In the current composition of the 24-member Edo State House of Assembly, 14 members are from the PDP, nine from the APC, and one from the Labour Party.
Meanwhile, the PDP has raised concerns over alleged efforts by the State House of Assembly to undermine a court ruling that nullified the suspension of 18 local government chairmen. The party claimed that the state government is pressuring the legislative leaders in these councils to prevent the reinstated chairmen from fulfilling their constitutional duties.
Chris Osa Nehikhare, the Publicity Secretary of the PDP Caretaker Committee, made the allegations in a statement after an emergency meeting convened by Chairman Tony Aziegbemi. The meeting, attended by local government chairmen and legislative leaders from all councils, was held to address the challenges faced by the chairmen following the court’s ruling. Aziegbemi urged the council leaders to resume their duties and continue serving their constituents, advising them to stay vigilant against deceptive offers from the government.
