Ojiezele Osezua Sunday, the lawmaker representing Esan South-East constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Osezua, who was initially elected on the APC platform in 2019, had switched to the PDP following the inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly by former Governor Godwin Obaseki. He was subsequently re-elected under the PDP in the 2023 general election.
In explaining his defection, Osezua cited the irreconcilable crises within the PDP at both the state and national levels. He described his return to the APC as a “homecoming,” expressing confidence that his move would help rally more supporters back to the party. The two-term lawmaker had represented the PDP in the September 21, 2024, governorship election, backing PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo.
Upon his defection, Osezua was welcomed into the APC by the Acting State Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, and other members of the state executive council. Tenebe remarked that more members from opposition parties were expected to join the APC in the near future. The APC currently holds 9 seats in the 24-member Edo State House of Assembly, while 14 members are from the PDP and 1 from the Labour Party.
Meanwhile, the PDP has raised concerns about alleged attempts by the Edo State House of Assembly to undermine a court ruling that nullified the suspension of 18 local government council chairmen. The party accused the state government of pressuring legislative leaders in the councils to block the reinstated chairmen from performing their constitutional duties.
Chris Osa Nehikhare, the Publicity Secretary of the PDP Caretaker Committee, issued the statement following an emergency meeting chaired by the party’s State Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi.
The meeting, which included local government council chairmen and legislative leaders, addressed the ongoing challenges faced by the council chairmen since the court’s ruling. Aziegbemi urged the chairmen to return to their council secretariats and continue serving their constituents, while also advising legislative leaders to be wary of any deceptive offers designed to undermine the chairmen’s roles.
