The exit of Chief Tom Ikimi from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday received some knocks from his kinsmen in Edo Central senatorial district.
The leaders, who are largely people from Ikimi’s immediate constituency, made their position known when they met Governor Adams Oshiomhole in Benin City.
Those present at the meeting were the local government council chairman and his councillors, and Julius Asemota, the senatorial vice-chairman of the party, Chief Henry Okoror.
Asemota who led councillors in the local government to the meeting, declared that though he is a blood relation of Ikimi, he and his councillors have no intention to join the PDP with him.
“Chief Ikimi did not consult us before his exit from the party and we are not aware he has left because he was not voted as the National Chairman of the APC. That is his personal problem, as a result, we are not going to PDP with him,” they echoed. They assured the governor of their loyalty to the APC, adding that Ikimi was on his own.
Against this backdrop, Oshiomhole charged them to prove their loyalty in the field, asserting that the forthcoming elections would be a test case for the leaders whom he assured of his support for the growth of the party in the area.
Speaking further, the governor said the meeting became necessary since the structure of the party in Igueben was left in the hands of Ikimi to produce APC executive and the local government chairman and councillors.
Source: Thisday
