Another PDP lawmaker defects to APC in Benin

Nicholas Asonsere, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker, representing Ikpoba Okha Constituency in the Edo House of Assembly, has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Asonsere’s defection brings the APC’s strength in the Assembly to 15 members against PDP’s nine.

He was presented with the party’s symbolic broom by the state’s Acting Chairman, Jarret Tenebe at the APC Secretariat on Wednesday in Benin.

Asonsere described his defection as “self-conditioned,” driven by Gov. Monday Okpebholo’s impactful projects in his constituency, particularly the construction of flyover in Ikpoba Hill.

“Somebody cannot be developing my immediate constituency, constructing a flyover there, and I’ll be on the left-hand side while he is on the right-hand side.

“That means I’m not ready to develop the constituency or the people I represent.

“I personally called the governor to express my desire to join the APC and be part of the progress.

“The governor’s developmental strides in such a short time, convinced me, he deserves our full support,” Asonsere said.

Quoting the scripture, the lawmaker noted, “When I was a child, I reasoned like a child, but now that I am a man, I should reason like a man.”

In his remark, Tenebe described the defection as “a political earthquake,” noting that Asonsere was a key political ally of two prominent PDP figures in Edo South.

“This is not just any defection. It is a sign that the PDP’s foundation is crumbling. Hon. Asonsere was once a pillar in the PDP and now, he has aligned with the future,” he said.

The party leader also extended an olive branch to PDP members, urging them to embrace Gov. Okpebholo’s development-driven leadership.