The Campaign Coordinator of the President Goodluck Jonathan in Edo State and former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Maj. Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (retired), on Sunday dumped the party and moved over to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Airhivbere contested the governorship election with incumbent Governor Adams Oshiomhole in November 2012, but he was floored by the latter. He headed to the court and also lost.
The governorship candidate defected from his party exactly eight days after the PDP lost the presidential election to the APC and was received by the State Chairman of the APC, Mr. Anselm Ojezua, as well as Governor Oshiomhole at an event held at Garrick Memorial College, in Benin, the state capital.
However, his exit from the PDP is believed to have further injured the struggle of the party to forge ahead after the major defeat it recorded at the presidential election.
The former governorship candidate stated at his reception that he decided to leave the PDP because he needed the state to continue to enjoy the benefits of the APC from May 29 when the party takes over government.
Airhiavbere, while declaring that he would remain loyal to the APC and the State Government, said he was sure that the APC would fulfil all its campaign promises to Edo and Nigeria.
He noted that the state was lacking the presence of a Federal Government and that it was time for the state to begin to enjoy a good relationship with the government at the centre.
“I have decided to join the team of change that has come to the nation in the last election so that Edo State will continue to enjoy the benefits of the party at the centre.
“Any politician, who means well for this state will ground their arms of hate and join the change train of the APC government, ably led His Excellently, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole,” he said at the reception.
In his reaction, Ojezua said Airhiavbere’s defection would be difficult for the PDP to overcome especially as the State prepares for the House of Assembly election on 11th April.
In spite of this celebration, it is believed that Airhiavbere’s defection is aimed at positioning himself for the governorship election to be held in the state in 2016.
Sources within the APC said the party was aware that the Campaign Coordinator for Jonathan’s re-election wanted a situation where he would have stayed in the party beyond the required period to afford him the opportunity to partake in the governorship election.
“We are mindful of this. It is just that for now, we need as many of them as possible to expand our party.
“When the time comes, we would know what to do. You don’t cross a bridge you have not reached,” a top member of the party in the State told Huhuonline.com on Sunday.
