AC can’t be PDP’s alternative in Edo – Braimoh

By Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN—The Senator Representing Edo North senatorial district in the senate, Alhaji Yisa Braimoh, has shrugged off insinuations  that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was dead in the state, following the defection of six of its local government council chairmen to Action Congress (AC) last weekend.

He asserted that in spite of what happened, AC “cannot be an alternative party to PDP in Edo State”.
According to him, Action Congress (AC) will fizzle out “in just a matter of time”.

Braimoh, who spoke to newsmen in Benin City, said that though defection of persons to political parties was not new to the system, the practice breeds instability and threat to democracy if not checked.

He added that those who defected to AC were never committed members of the PDP, noting that “ if you recall about four weeks ago, the PDP in a grandeur ceremony received the former AC rival to Governor Oshiomhole, Ken Imasuagbon, in Ewohinmi.

“I would have thought that may be this is an attempt by the AC just to say that we also can do something.
“But let me make a statement clear; AC cannot be an alternative government to PDP in Edo . It will not be; it is just a matter of time. PDP is repositioning, re-organizing and moving forward”.

We are going back to Government House come 2012”.

On the need to check cross carpeting by political office holders, Senator Braimoh asserted that “I am one of the few politicians who are vehemently opposed to such move.

“I think that our democracy has not developed to that stage where we can allow elected officers to defect to parties other than their own during the tenure of the office to which they were elected.

“It is not good for our democracy, it breeds corruption, it breeds instability and it is a challenge to stability of government.

“I will do all I can within the National Assembly to ensure that an appropriate legislation is put in place, along with the electoral reforms, to ensure that elected officers do not defect to another political parties while still in office during the tenure for which they are elected.”