Ex-Edo Edo PDP gov candidate Ikhine defects to APC

Engr. Gideon Ikhine, the Deputy Director General of the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party Campaign Council for the reelection of Governor Godwin Obaseki in 2020, has defected to the APC.

Ikhine, who was also a former PDP candidate for governor of Edo State, stated in a letter of resignation addressed to the party’s chairman and dated July 8, 2023, that he had had the honor of serving the party for the past 24 years. The letter was made available to journalists on Sunday.

“It has been a great honor to contribute to the development and success of this party over the years, with the People Democratic Party recording outstanding results from my Ward throughout the 24 years of working with you,” the letter’s opening line reads.

“My commitment to the people of Ward 7, Esan-West Local Government, and the people of Edo remains firm and resolute to keep serving them in another capacity,” he added.

Ikhine gave reasons on Sunday for leaving the PDP, citing the party’s perpetual impasse that pits the Obaseki group against the legacy group as a major factor. He also claimed that it would be challenging to fulfill his desire to serve his community.

He added that he had the vision to bring the state and its citizens out of obscurity and that it would be wrong to remain in the PDP after having supported the APC in the previous election and helped Bola Tinubu win the presidency.

He refuted the assertion that he received $1 million to resign in support of Obaseki in 2019, noting that he had supported the governor because he believed Obaseki had a good plan for the state.

He added that rumors that the ticket had been zoned to Edo South prevented him from leaving the party.

The PDP’s deadlock, he claimed, was a major contributing factor in his decision to leave the party because he didn’t believe he could accomplish his goals in the state as long as Obaseki and the legacy group were still at odds. I’m moving 30% of the PDP’s membership over to the APC.

Because of some injustice and anomaly that were perpetuated in Esan during the previous election, I also collaborated with the APC. So it made sense for me to join APC,” he continued.