BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

BENIN—AHEAD of the July 14 governorship election in Edo State, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has lost a major financier in Edo North senatorial district, Chief Francis Alimekhena; former state chairman of the party, Chief Edward Sado and over 2,000 supporters of the party in Etsako East Local Government Area, who  dumped the party for Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.

Former Special Adviser to the President, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, may also dump the party, following his rejection of the result of governorship primaries, which produced Gen. Charles Airhiavbere as the governorship candidate of the party.

Chief Alimekhena, who was received by Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the South-South Vice-Chairman of ACN and Campaign Director of Oshiomhole Campaign Organisation, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and others, at Agenebode, said he decided to dump PDP because of the party’s lack of vision for the people of the state.

Alimekhena and the former Deputy Governor of the state, Rev.Peter Obadan, expressed gratitude to Governor Oshiomhole for bringing development to their communities in Edo North, adding,  “We are preparing Oshiomhole for a higher office because he has brought hope for the hopeless in Edo State.”

Addressing the crowd, Oshiomhole expressed appreciation for the decision of Alimekhena to join him in ACN, saying “we have insisted that this campaign will be based on issues. I am happy that this local government has produced leaders, who have fought for democracy in this country.”