Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has declared the beginning of mobilization efforts in support of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign ahead of the 2027 polls.
This declaration came during the reception of Hon. Kaycee Osamwonyi, a member of the Edo State House of Assembly, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Representing Uhunmwonde Constituency and serving on the House Committee on Budget and Appropriation, Osamwonyi was officially welcomed into the APC by the state chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, before being presented to Governor Okpebholo at the Government House in Benin City.
While receiving the lawmaker, Governor Okpebholo praised the growing number of new members joining the APC and described their entrance as a boost to the party’s strength in the state.
He noted that the APC remains open and accommodating to others who are willing to contribute to the growth and development of Edo State.
The governor assured the defectors of equal opportunities to participate in governance and promised to work closely with them, particularly in developing areas like Uhunmwonde, which he described as important to his administration’s agenda.
He further revealed that the APC in Edo had already started its groundwork toward President Tinubu’s second-term bid, encouraging young people to become actively involved.
Chairman of the APC in the state, Jarrett Tenebe, expressed satisfaction with Osamwonyi’s decision, stating that the switch to the ruling party has tipped the balance in the State Assembly in favor of the APC. He linked the defection to the rapid progress made by Governor Okpebholo’s government.
Speaking at the event, Osamwonyi attributed his move to internal conflicts within the PDP and the impressive record of the Okpebholo administration.
Calling his return to the APC a “homecoming,” he said his decision was guided by a desire to bring meaningful development to the people of Uhunmwonde, especially with the several projects earmarked for the area in the state budget.