…assures victory for Ighodalo
By Yahaya Idris
Chief Francis Inegbeneki, the former All Progressives Congress, APC, Vice Chairman in Edo State has succeeded in collapsing the entire structure of the APC in Esan Central.
In an outing which was organised on Saturday, hundreds of APC members, including the stalwarts and stakeholders of the party officially followed him to join the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to deliver Dr Asue Ighodalo in the gubernatorial election coming up on the 21st of September 2024.
Recall that earlier this month, Inegbeneki resigned his membership from the APC. Inegbeniki’s resignation was contained in a letter dated June 8, 2024, addressed to the ward chairman of Opoji, Esan Central Local Government, and made available to journalists. In the latter, which came as a rude shock to the APC, he said that some recent developments in the party in his local government area and state conflict with his principles and values.
He added that this has led him to do a serious evaluation of his political future in the state and decide on the way forward.
“There comes a time in the life of every man when some hard decisions must be taken not only in one’s interest but in the general interest of his people. This is one such moment.
“This is my 25 years as an active, financial, and dedicated grassroot politician in Edo State.
“Also, as one of the founding fathers of the APC in Edo State, I believe that I have contributed my quota to the growth of the party in my ward, local government area, senatorial district, state, and our country, Nigeria.
“However, some recent developments in the party in my local government area and state conflict with my core principles and values. This has led me to do a serious evaluation of my political future in Edo State and decide on the way forward.
“After due consultations with my family, friends, and political associates, I wish to formally inform you of my decision to resign my membership in the APC and my role as the state vice chairman. It is a hard decision, but it is the best in the interest of the good people of my senatorial district.”
All efforts to talk to him by the party’s stakeholders within the state to come back to the party proved abortive. He has since aligned with the AIO2 Movement. He promised that more members of the opposition members in the state will leave to join the PDP before September.
