By Ehichioya Steve Odion
Former governorship aspirant in the Peoples Democratic Party, now All Progressives Congress, APC stalwart, Engr. Gideon Ikhine said in his 24 years in PDP, there was focus, determination and love within the party, until the last general elections when problem came into the party because of the selection of candidates by the leadership of the party in Edo State with the connivance of the National leadership of the party against the wishes of the generality of party members.
Engr. Ikhine made this known in an exclusive interview with The Groove Watch News crew in Benin City.
"The party became polarised. The foundation we built for years was eroded. Especially the wrong decision the national leadership took on the party primaries. Party primary was arranged by members not in the party, but in the government house. I'm a respecter of constituted authority. But when it is abused, I cannot be part of it. People should learn how to separate politics from governance. The governor should ,have allowed those elected as party state executives to perform their duties".
He added that in the last general elections PDP did not have candidates. He said people like him could not just sit and watch such an ugly situation happening in the party, hence he took side with APC which he said were more orderly and presented good candidates in his Senatorial District. He said he decided to work with them and it turned out the first time APC won the Senatorial seat by Sen. Monday Okpebholo and one House of Representatives member won by Hon. Odi Okojie of Esan North East and South East Constituency.
"Although Deacon Patrick Idiake in APC lost that of Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben Constituency, we didn't know where they manufactured their results and the case is right now at the tribunal, which I believe will be in favour of the APC candidate, Deacon Patrick Idiake because the facts are there. Having worked with APC and won the election I no longer belong to PDP. I now moved to where I'm accepted".
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