Over 87 elected Councilors in the Edo State have vowed to resist the harassment and official intimidation meted out to them by Governor Godwin Obaseki to forcefully join the PDP.
The Councilors, most of whom were elected on the platform of the APC, dismissed claims of their defection allegedly sponsored in the media by Godwin Obaseki to portray false solidarity, while insisting that the Governor’s performance since 2016 has neither inspired confidence nor provided motivation for them to join his defection.
The spokesperson for the group, Hon. Emwinghare Osabuohien of Ward 2, Egor Local Government Council, condemned their suspension which he deemed illegal and the refusal of the state government to pay their salaries over the expression of their constitutionally protected freedom to associate and maintain membership of a preferred political party.
Other Councilors, including Hon. Okpamen Angela representing Ovia West, Hon. Kingsley Ogiri, and Hon. Godwin Ekhator, vowed to remain resolute in fighting for the victory of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and the All Progressives Congress at the polls on the 19th of September.
According to them, the few Councilors who defected caved in to the pressure and intimidation of the State Government.
