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Suspended Edo LG Chairmen, 13 Councillors Defect To APC

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Suspended chairmen of Owan West and Ovia South West local government councils, Dickson Ahonsi and Edosa Enowoghomenma, on Friday defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress in Edo State.

Ahonsi defected with five councillors while Enowoghomenma moved with eight of his councillors.

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Ahonsi was received by members of the state executive of the party in Benin, the state capital.

He said his decision to join the APC was influenced by the steps taken so far by Governor Monday Okpebholo to develop the state.

READ ALSO: Edo: Police Arrest Man For Burning Estranged Wife’s House On New Year’s Day

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The chairman and the five councilors were presented with brooms, the party’s symbol while saying he (Ahonsi) would ensure his other colleagues join the APC to give their support to the present administration.

He said, ”I am to join the APC today because of what the governor is doing. Firstly, he has made important appointments, unlike the previous government. The list of commissioners will soon be released and it is a welcome development.

“The projects that he has embarked upon show clearly that Edo is in safe hands and that is why I am here to join the party.”

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Edo State Secretary of the APC, Lawrence Okah, while receiving the suspended chairman and the councillors into the party said the doors of the party were open to receive more defectors.

READ ALSO: Edo: APC Ward Chairman Suspended Over Alleged Gross Misconduct, Anti-Party Activities

In Ovia South West Local Government, Enowoghomenma and the eight councillors including the Leader of the House, Nosakhare Edobor, were received by the council’s chairman of the party, Emmanuel Ogbomo, who said that they would not regret joining the ruling party in the state.

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Ogbomo said, “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. You will not regret your action, we will join to protect you and your office.”

Speaking earlier before he was presented with the paraphernalia of the party, Enowoghomenma said they decided to join the APC to support Okpebholo and the deputy governor, Dennis Idahosa, to develop the state.

READ ALSO: Edo Community Installs Village Head, Charges Him On Inclusive Governance

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He said, “We have thought it wise to pitch a tent with the APC in Ovia South West LGA. We will work harmoniously with our governor, Sen Monday Okpebholo, and our son, Dennis Idahosa, the deputy governor. Idahosa 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 do not work with the deputy governor and the governor. That is why we all agreed to join him in the APC and further put our house together to develop our local government.”

Edobor said they were not under duress to jump ship but took the decision in the interest of the local government area.

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Ekiti 2026: APC Aspirant Slams Oyebanji For Threatening Party Leaders

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An All Progressives Congress aspirant in the 2026 governorship election, Kayode Ojo, on Sunday, tackled Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, for threatening party chairman in the local government area and wards not to entertain any other contender.

Ojo, who said that the governor’s waning popularity had pushed him to desperation, said, “This threat is not only ludicrous, but also vexatious and aptly demonstrates to all and sundry that the governor intends to turn the APC into his private fiefdom and family inheritance.”

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The APC aspirant, represented by the Chairman, Consultative Forum of Kayode Ojo, Olukayode Oluyemo, who spoke at a press conference in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, expressed confidence that Ojo would win the party’s October 27, 2025 primary election despite alleged attacks and harassment from Oyebanji’s camp.

He restarted his determination to govern Ekiti State to redress what he called “the inexplicable stagnation ravaging Ekiti State despite the huge monthly allocation from the Federation Account as well as the state’s potential for development and growth.”

READ ALSO:Ekiti Govt Issues BEDC Seven-day Ultimatum Over Power Outage

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He spoke in reaction to a statement credited to Oyebanji on Friday while receiving his APC expression of interest and nomination forms from a group within the Ekiti State University Alumni Association, which obtained the forms for him.

Oyebanji was quoted to have said, “I want to see the local government, I want to see the local government chairman and the ward chairman of APC that will open their doors and offices for these people. I want to know the party member that will receive them.”

But Ojo described the governor’s threat as a “violation of APC Constitution on the issue that members of the party are free to associate and to hold meetings with any aspirant in as much that they belong to the same party. We are members of APC, I don’t see why the governor is violating this constitutional provision.

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“It is our party, so we are calling on the national executives of our party in Abuja to caution him so that he will not destroy APC.

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The governor is as well violating the Nigerian constitution, which has made it very clear that everybody has the right to associate. Everybody has the right to switch, I mean to pick your candidates and hold meetings at anywhere as long as you are not holding the meeting to rob or to cause criminal activities.

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“So Mr Governor of Ekiti State should trust softly, be a democrat, obey the constitution of Nigeria and obey the constitution of our party, APC”.

Oluyemo, who said that Ojo’s friends and supporters, who had provided cash for his nomination and expression of interest forms, disclosed that they would pick the forms at APC National Secretariat in Abuja on Monday.

He said that the group had been mobilising APC members ahead of the forthcoming primaries to enable Ojo pick the party ticket, saying, “The problem we have been having is attacks from the side of the government, which probably feels that there should not be any opposition.

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We are not opposition members. We are members of the same party.
We only have our preferred aspirant, who we are backing to emerge as flagbearer.”

The group’s chairman, who alleged that Ojo’s supporters were being framed up and arrested for fictitious offences, called on police leadership in the state and at the federal level “to provide a level playing ground for all APC members to choose and follow their preferred aspirants preparatory to the party’s governorship primary election.”

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He stated, “We equally plead with the leadership of APC in Ekiti State to eschew partisanship and embrace all governorship aspirants as one in the APC family.

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We also plead with President Bola Tinubu and the national leadership of our great party to caution Governor Oyebanji against ordering the arrest, harassment and maiming of APC members in Ekiti State. The forthcoming primary election is not a do-or-die affair,” he said.

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Oluyemo urged supporters “to remain steadfast, law abiding and patriotic and unshakably loyal to the cause by stepping up mobilisation efforts across the 16 local government areas of the state without any fear as the day of liberation draws near”.

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Benue Assembly Gets New Speaker

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Benue State House of Assembly on Sunday elected Alfred Emberger as its new speaker.

The appointment came shortly after the resignation of the former speaker, Aondona Dajoh.

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The new speaker is one of the four members suspended last Friday for attempting to remove the former speaker.

At the plenary session held on Sunday and presided over by the deputy speaker, Lami Danaldi-Ogenyi, the house resolved to lift the suspension on the four members.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Benue Assembly Speaker Aondona Dajoh Resigns

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The majority leader, Saater Tiseer, who said that the plenary was an emergency one, moved a motion for the lifting of the suspension on the four members and was seconded by Samuel Jiji of Logo state constituency.

The deputy speaker said, “Following the motion raised by the majority leader and supported by members of the house, this house has resolved to lift the suspension of the four members.”

After lifting the suspension, the four members were ushered into the chamber, and the nomination of the new speaker was announced.

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A member representing the Makurdi South state constituency, Douglas Akyaa, moved a motion and nominated Emberger for the position of new speaker, seconded by Abu Umoru of the Apa state constituency.

READ ALSO:BREAKING: Benue Assembly Suspends Four Members For Attempting To Impeach Speaker

While there was no other nomination, the new speaker took the oath of office administered by the Clerk of the house, John Hwande

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The new speaker, in his acceptance speech, commended the former speaker for his service and commitment to the progress of the house and the people of the state.

He further said, “To my esteemed colleagues, I assure you that this leadership will be anchored on inclusiveness, fairness and respect for diverse opinions.

“This house under my watch will work harmoniously with the executive and judiciary while maintaining our independence in line with the principle of separation of powers.”

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JUST IN: Benue Assembly Speaker Aondona Dajoh Resigns

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The Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Aondona Dajoh, has resigned from his position.

According to Channels TV, the resignation is contained in a letter dated August 24, 2025, and titled “Resignation as the Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly.”

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Dajoh said his decision was made in good faith and in the interest of the state.

“I write to resign my position as the Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, effective today, August 24, 2025. This is done in good faith and in the best interest of the state. I want to appreciate my dear colleagues for the opportunity they gave me to be the first among equals,” the letter, personally signed by Dajoh, read in part.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Benue Assembly Suspends Four Members For Attempting To Impeach Speaker

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Dajoh, who represents Gboko West State Constituency, pledged to continue serving as a legislator.

“I pledge to remain committed to my duties as a legislator and representative of Gboko West State Constituency,” he added.

Details about who will replace Dajoh had not been released at the time of filing this report.

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The House is expected to follow its standing orders to fill the vacancy and name a new speaker in line with legislative procedure.

 

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