Gideon Ikhine, the Deputy Director-General of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s re-election Campaign Council in 2020, has officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a letter addressed to the Chairman of his Ward 7 in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area, under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ikhine expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the growth and success of the PDP over the past 24 years.
He said: “My commitment to the people of Ward 7, Esan-West council, and Edo people, remains firm and resolute to keep serving them in other capacity.”
Ikhine, who was the first governorship aspirant to step down for Obaseki in 2020, hinted at his intention to pursue his governorship aspirations by joining the APC in the upcoming year.
He reiterated his vision of leading Edo State and its residents toward progress, emphasizing that his previous involvement with the APC during the last general elections made it inappropriate for him to remain in the PDP.
He mentioned that he would be taking along 30 percent of PDP members to the APC.
Furthermore, Ikhine expressed his disappointment with the ongoing disagreement between Governor Obaseki and members of the PDP’s Legacy Group in Edo, led by Chief Dan Orbih, the National Vice Chairman (Southsouth).
It was reported that Ikhine and Obaseki had reached an agreement granting him the right of first refusal in the September 2024 governorship election. However, Obaseki decided to support Asue Ighodalo, another candidate from the same Edo Central region, as his successor.
In the past few weeks, three other prominent PDP members, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, Kenneth Imansuangbon, and Adaeze Emwanta, have also left the party.
While Senator Urhoghide has yet to decide which political party to join, Imansuangbon and Emwanta swiftly joined the Labour Party. Imansuangbon, who had also stepped down for Obaseki in 2020, made the move alongside Emwanta.
