The People’s Democratic Party has lost at least three top governors to the ruling party (All Progressives Congress). The governors switched their allegiance to the ruling fold after persuasion and perhaps their own consideration. There may be another governor of the PDP that is currently under pressure to dump the party.
Recall that Ben Ayade and Bello Matawalle (the last two PDP governors to join APC) didn’t give much clue that they would be dumping the PDP. They made the announcement and they even travelled to Abuja to meet the president, Muhammadu Buhari. Another governor may be on his way.
Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has hinted that there is pressure on him to leave the PDP. He joined the party barely a year ago after he suffered so much in the APC. He switched his loyalty from the All Progressives Congress to the People’s Democratic Party when the preparation for Edo State election was underway.
He was warmly welcomed into the PDP and he was given the ticket of the party. He contested for his second term mandate on the platform of the PDP. And he was so supported that he was reelected on the platter of gold. And just less than a year into his second term, he gave the clue.
The PDP has been in disarray since the success of the party and Obaseki in Edo State election. Several top politicians of the PDP have been suspended. And the internal clashes are seriously dipping the Edo State chapter of the PDP into mess. Then, all these could have frustrated Godwin Obaseki.
The Edo State governor gave the hint that he’s being persuaded to switch party at a summit in Benin, the capital of Edo State. He talked that the progress of Edo State is more paramount now. But one thing that should be clear is that Obaseki wouldn’t talk about switching if there were no pressure.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress is looking for ways to enter south-south fully. Apart from Ben Ayade, the Rivers State governor, the APC can’t point at any other governor in the region, which is rich in oil. Hence, there may be need to attract Obaseki into the APC.
