Smart Suspended Edo Council Chairman, Eight Councillors Defect to APC to Stave Off Impeachment

For Edosa Enowoghomwenma, the suspended chairman of Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State and eight councilors, including the Leader of the House, Nosakhare Edobor, the fear of impeachment seems to be the beginning of political sagacity.

With threat of impeachment hanging on the chairmen's necks like the mythical sword of Damocles,  Enowoghomwenma and the eight councillors Friday, January 3, 2025 apparently decided to make a move to stave off their removal: they defected from the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

So far not less than six out of the chairmen and vice chairmen including Egor, Owan East, Orhionmwon, Uhunwmode Esan West and Esan Central Local Government Areas, have been sacked by the councillors with many more set to go in the coming days and weeks.

The deflectors were received by the Ovia South West chairman of the APC, Emmanuel Ogbomo, who assured them that they would not regret joining the party.

“There is nothing new about what you are doing today. I was in the PDP for 20 years before I left and now I am the LGA chairman of the party, which means that in the APC, everybody is treated equally and you will not regret your action. We will join to protect you and your office,” he said.

Like a smart Alec, Enowoghomenma said they decided to join the APC to support Governor Monday Okpebholo and their son, Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, to develop the State.

He said: “We have thought it wise to pitch tent with the APC in Ovia South West LGA, to work harmoniously with our governor, Distinguished Sen Monday Okpebholo, the Governor of Edo State and our very own, our son, we call him Ovia Proper, Mr Project Rt. Hon Dennis Idahosa. Hon Dennis is not a stranger to all of us, we know him and he is a blessing to Ovia South West.

“As the council chairman, it will do our people, Ovia South West no good if we would not work in tandem with the deputy governor and the governor of Edo state hence we all agree to come and join him in the APC today and further put our house together to develop our local government.”

Amplifying the suspended chairman, Edobor insisted that they were not under duress but took the decision for the interest of the local government area.

“I am happy with my other colleagues of the Ovia South West legislative arm to join forces and ensure that there is development in Ovia South West.

“The reason why we are in politics is to ensure that Ovia South West is taken to an enviable height so we are here today, we are not under duress, we are here to join the ruling party in the state to bring about the renewed hope to our people. The essence of being in politics is to bring development,” he said.