By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Following yesterday’s defection of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker in Edo State House of Assembly to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party now controls the assembly with 15 members.
In the 24-member 8th Edo State House of Assembly, APC now has 15 lawmakers, while the main opposition PDP is left with nine legislators.
Governor Monday Okpebholo yesterday predicted the collapse of PDP in the state, with more of its members dumping it for the APC.
Okpebholo spoke at the Government House, Benin, while receiving the representative of Ikpoba-Okha Constituency, Nicholas Asonsere, who dumped the PDP for the APC.
During the 2023 general election, PDP had 15 seats; APC won eight seats, while Labour Party (LP) had one seat. But with the November 12, 2024 inauguration of Okpebholo as governor, most of the opposition politicians have opted to defect to APC.
House of Assembly Speaker Blessing Agbebaku (Owan West Constituency) and Deputy Speaker Maria Edeko (Esan Northeast II), both of PDP, are still maintaining their offices, and yet to indicate plan to defect to APC.
Governor Okpebholo thanked all new members who joined APC from other parties. He assured them that the party (APC) was a place of opportunities, as they would not be discriminated against, but would be given opportunity to contribute to the development of the state.