The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that four members of the House of Assembly were each offered ₦200 million to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmakers—Donald Okugbe (Akoko Edo Constituency II), Bright Iyamu (Orhionmwon South Constituency II), Richard Edosa (Oredo West Constituency), and Sunday Ojezele (Esan South East)—were officially welcomed into the APC at the party’s secretariat in Benin.
In a statement, Chris Nehikhare, the PDP Caretaker Committee’s Publicity Secretary, condemned Governor Monday Okpebholo, accusing him of using state resources to facilitate the defections.
“Last week, we raised concerns that Governor Okpebholo was offering ₦200 million per lawmaker to lure PDP members into the APC. Now, four legislators have defected, taking the money in the process,” Nehikhare claimed.
He criticized the governor for prioritizing political maneuvers over pressing governance issues, particularly as insecurity continues to escalate in Edo State.
“At a time when over 40 lives have been lost to insecurity in the past two weeks, the governor is more focused on political realignment than addressing urgent security concerns,” he added.
The defecting lawmakers were received by Jarret Tenebe, the acting Edo APC Chairman, along with other party leaders.
With these defections, the APC now holds 13 seats in the 24-member Assembly, while the PDP has 11. The Labour Party also lost its only representative, further consolidating the APC’s majority.
