•Six reps members, too
•Edo speaker, others also join ruling party
Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba, Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City and Juliet Akoje in Abuja
Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor, yesterday, formally joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) together with 21 other members of the House elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Also, six House of Representatives members from Delta State, have defected from the PDP to the APC.
At the same time, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), Mr. Blessing Agbebaku, led two other members of the assembly and some local government councilors of the PDP to the APC.
Guwor and the others were, on 28th April in Asaba, received into the APC by Vice-President Shettima, alongside Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, former governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the chairmen of the state’s 25 local government areas and almost all the leaders and members of the PDP in the state.
However, by yesterday’s formal defection of the Speaker and the 21 former PDP legislators, the Delta State House of Assembly is now effectively transformed into a one-party, APC legislature because the remaining seven lawmakers were already APC members.
The speaker made the announcement when the House resumed plenary after the Easter break.
He justified the action referencing Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, thanking the members for the support and contribution to legislative activities of the state legislature.
Guwor urged the House to ensure the completion of all pending bills as the second legislative session nears draws towards the end.
From the House of Representatives, six PDP members defected to the APC. They were Hon. Victor Nwokolo, Hon. Julius Pondi, Hon. Thomas Ereyitomi, Hon. Nicholas Mutu, Hon. Okodiko Jonathan, and Hon.Nnamdi Ezechi.
Also, two Labour Party members from Enugu State, also defected from their party to join the PDP.
They were Hon. Mark Obetta and Hon. Dennis Nnamdi.
According to the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, the lawmakers attributed their defections to unresolved internal crises within their parties both at state and national levels.
In Edo, the Speaker, Mr. Blessing Agbebaku, led two other members of the house and some local government councilors of the PDP to the APC.
The Speaker said the move was aimed at aligning with Governor Monday Okpebholo to fast-track development across the State.
Agbebaku, in his remarks, praised the governor’s developmental focus, citing the construction of Uhonmora Secondary School and three major roads in Owan West LGA as signs of inclusive governance.
He declared: “We are here to support the governor and the president to move Edo forward.”
