Uromi, the administrative headquarters of Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State came under heavy political tsunami on Saturday as a well-known chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Musa Isiwele, a former Deputy Commissioner of Police and former National President of the Road Transport Employees Association, led over 3,000 other members to dump the party and joined the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
The earth-scorching defection was witnessed by PDP heavyweights in the state.
They include elder statesman, Tom Ikimi; the state PDP Chairman, Anthony Aziegbemin; the Director General of the PDP State Campaign Council, Matthew Iduoriyemkewen; Senator Odion Ugbesia and his brother Akhere Ugbesia; Deputy Speaker of the House, Maria Edeko; Esan North East Local Government Executive Chairman, Kelly Inedegbor; Esan South East Local Government Chairman, Louis Imhandegbelo and popular cleric and brother of the PDP governorship candidate, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo.
Others present included John Yakubu, Esan South East PDP chairman, Odiase; Joe Edionwele, and Peter Aguele among many other party chieftains.
In his address, Isiwele pledged the readiness of his followers and himself to work hard, campaign and vote for Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the party in the September 21 election across Edo Central.
In his response, Ighodalo promised not to fail the good people of Edo State.
He assured the teeming crowd that he has a clear vision of what to do to lift Edo State to a first world sub-national in the country.
“I want to promise all of you gathered here today that I will not fail or let Edo State down. Our vision is clear, what we want to achieve is clear. Edo State is well blessed with human and natural resources. The vision is to make Edo State a first world sub-national in Nigeria and a state that all of you would be proud of to. All your state and which our people in the Diaspora would eagerly want to come back home to. It is doable by the grace of God and the goodwill of our people.”
Meanwhile, Esan North East Local Government has been declared ‘locked down for PDP’ by some prominent members of the PDP Legacy Group and the Anenihs.
The Chief Imam of Uromi caps the heartwarming event it with prayers for Ighodalo’s victory at the poll.
He also recounted how John Yakubu had supported the Muslim community in the town and thanked Governor Godwin Obaseki for the support they continued to receive from him; saying they would thank him by encouraging their people to vote for PDP and Ighodalo.
With his adoption by leaders of all faiths in the state, Ighodalo’s chances in the coming election have significantly improved.
The support he continues to enjoy from all and sundry surely has almost guaranteed an electoral victory for Ighodalo.
Chants of “ It’s all over , It’s all over “ filled the air as supporters consider the coming election a forgone conclusion, insisting that the September 21 gubernatorial election has been won following the gale of defections of grassroot canvassers and party chieftains that have been joining the Ighodalo/Ogie ticket train since the campaign started on April 23.
