Two All Progressives Congress lawmakers in the Edo House of Assembly on Monday resigned from the party and defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The two lawmakers are the former deputy speaker of the house and member representing Akoko-Edo 1,
Yekini Idaiye and the member representing Orhionmwon East Constituency, Nosayaba Okunbor.

The speaker, Marcus Onobun read their letters of resignation from APC on the floor of the house.

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Onobun welcomed the lawmakers to the PDP and commended their desire to work with the state governor in making Edo great again.

The defection of the two lawmakers has brought the number of PDP lawmakers to nine with only one APC lawmaker in the 10-man house of assembly .

The resignation letter by Yekini Idaiye reads: “May I use this medium to inform you of my resignation as a member of APC.

“I took this decision because of internal crisis in the party from my ward to the local government level which led to the factions in the party for some time now.

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“It is on this note I have decided to resign my membership of the APC and officially defect to the PDP,”.

The resignation letter by Nosayaba Okunbor reads that: “this is to formally inform you of my decision to resign membership of APC.

“This decision is sequel to the division within the party which has become intractable.

“I have made strenuous efforts to ensure that this division within the party is reconciled in line with the provision of party’s constitution,

“but to no avail as the leadership of the party has simply refused to allow the issues involved to be adjudicated upon.

“Consequently, I have no other option than to resign my membership as a lean Liberty they say is better than fat slavery,”.

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Meanwhile, the house adopted a resolution calling on the state commissioner of police and other relevant security agencies to address the menace of armed hoodlums unleashing terror in Orhionmwon, Esan west and other parts of the state.

At plenary, the house also adopted a business calendar of 65 sitting days for the third quarter, second session starting from February 1to April 30, 2021.

The leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State are at loggerheads over non-compliance by the Godwin Obaseki’s administration of a court judgment reinstating the suspended chairman of Etsako East Local Government Council of the state, Aremiyau Momoh, by a state’s High Court in Benin.

Edo High Court, presided by Justice Daniel Okungbowa, had in a judgment described as illegal, null and void, the suspension of the local government chairman.

Edo APC, in a letter signed by its caretaker Chairman, Col. David Imuse (rtd.), and Secretary, Mr. Lawrence Okah respectively,
to the state’s Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of obstructing the implementation of the court judgment, which was described as declarative.

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“Take notice that the said judgment is a declarative one, which no higher court has held otherwise, for now.

”While counting on your proactive response in enforcing this judgment, please accept the assurance of our warm regards. Attached herewith is the certified true copy of the judgment,” the letter reads in part.

In his reaction, the state’s Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chris Nehikhare, however, stated that the state government had already appealed the judgment of the high court and PDP also filed for stay of execution of the judgment.

Mr. John Mayaki, Chairman, Media Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 19th governorship election in Edo State, has apologised to Dr. Mike Igini, Resident Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Akwa Ibom State, INEC, and Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, over his (Mayaki) publication he said has been unable to “pass integrity and credibility checks.”

Mr. Mayaki, a trained journalist and media consultant had, August 27th, in a build up to the Sepetember 19 governorship election in Edo State published a statement titled “APC accuses INEC REC, Mike Igini of colluding with Obaseki over secret night meeting” and with a rider: “REC left Governor’s residence with sacks of money,” wherein he raised the “alarm” that Dr. Igini held midnight meeting with Obaseki and consequently collected bribe from him.

Mayaki, who admitted that he was misled by his source and that he allowed his political interest to have taken better part of him in publishing the misleading press statement, in a latest statement titled ‘Mike Igini: I got it wrong, I apologise’ further admitted that the statement was not just embarrassing to him as a professional journalist but also proved fatally wrong and unable to pass credibility check.

According to the former Chairman, Media Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, he has scrutinised and and review his source, the story itself and also listened to the testimony of other credible persons on the statement and discovered it was a false.

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The statement reads in part: “In the year ending, the 27th of August was the most unethical day for me. It was during the period of my assignment as the Chairman, Media Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 19th governorship election in Edo state, that I released the above statement at about 5:27pm without cross-checking and interrogating my source. As a professional journalist, rather than base my judgement of the information from this source on its news value and public’s right to know the unbiased truth, I unfortunately allowed my political interest to motivate and take better part of me.

“I have taken time to scrutinise and review my source, the story itself and also listened to the testimony of other credible persons on this statement and the impeccable character of Mr. Mike Igini and have come to the conclusion and admission that something went wrong – my investigation and findings have now revealed that the story was not only untrue but unable to pass integrity and credibility checks.

“Being the chairman of the media campaign council, I took my assignment with a great dose of responsibility, privilege and honour. I appreciate the confidence and trust repose in me to serve in that capacity but for this source who thought he could advance my political interest with fake news and thinking propaganda could land us a win, this has proved wrong. This source did not only misled me to mislead the people but also to impugn on the reputation of Mr. Mike Igini and for which I am deeply embarrassed – I apologise.

“I agree, I was manipulated by this source and also complicit in the achievement of his goal because I failed to apply the simple rules of investigative journalist and logic to the allegations raised against one of the highly respected and reputable resident commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) – as the statement was highly offensive and should not have allowed this source have a better part of me. I’m sorry and regret that I did.

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“I failed by inadvertently allowing sinister forces, who were hellbent on destroying our institutions, to abuse our trust and use this to achieve their nefarious objectives. I will learn from these embarrassing moments and am determined to win back the confidence of my readers by putting in more hard work in whatever assignment under my supervision.

“I tender my profound apology to Mr. Mike Igini, the Governor of Edo state, Mr Godwin Obaseki, Mr. Anselm Ojezua – whose names appeared in that statement and on whom the story touches directly.

“By extension, I apologise to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the inconveniences or embarrassment this statement has occasioned them as I hold Mr. Mike Igini in the highest esteem.”

Mr. Mayaki who said he has resolved to rewin the trust of friends, admirers and strive in carrying out his professional job by following the professional ethics and rules, noted that being human, he’s bound to err.

“I am thankful to my conscience for acknowledging this great mistake and am also glad I listened and also to learn. I resolve that I will do my best to re-win the trust of all friends and admirers, my readers and those I have offended with the said unfortunate “August” statement. Human beings make errors, I am human and I am no exception,” he added.

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