On Sunday, the lawmaker representing Esan South East constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, Ojiezer Osezua, ousted the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and ran for the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The lawmaker, who was elected on the APC platform in 2019, was among the 10 members inaugurated by the immediate past governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.
However, he defected to the PDP and was re-elected on the platform of the Democratic Party in the 2023 general election.
Mr. Ozieser said he left the PDP due to the irreconcilable crisis rocking the party at the state and national level and described his departure from the party as a return home.
The exiled lawmaker who represented PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo in the September 21, 2024 governorship election has promised to bring more supporters back to the party.
The two-time lawmaker was welcomed by APC Acting State Chairman Jarrett Tenebe along with the state executive committee members.
Tenebe said more opposition members would join the party.
In the 24-member state house, 14 PDP members, nine APC members, and one Labor member were elected.
Meanwhile, the PDP has condemned the efforts of the state House of Assembly allegedly to challenge the court’s judgment quashing the suspension of 18 regional chairmen of the state house.
The party alleged that the state government was trying to intimidate Congress leaders to prevent the reinstated Speaker from discharging his constitutional duties.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Publicity Secretary of the PDP Interim Committee, Mr. Chris Osa Nehikare, after an emergency meeting held by Chairman Tony Agiegbemi on Monday.
Mr Agiegbemi said the meeting, which was attended by local government council chairmen and leaders of the legislative branches of all councils, was aimed at addressing the continuing challenges faced by council chairmen since the court ruling. .
Mr Agiegbemi called on the Speakers of Parliament to return to their respective parliamentary secretariats and continue to serve the constituents who elected them.
The party advised legislative leaders in Congress to remain vigilant against deceptive proposals presented.
