Power shifts as defections redefine Edo political landscape

Edo State’s political landscape is undergoing intense realignment ahead of its local government polls and the 2027 general elections, marked by high-profile defections reshaping party strength across the state, writes ADEYINKA ADEDIPE

The political setting in Edo State constantly experiences alignments and realignments. This has intensified ahead of this year’s local government election in the state and the general election in 2027. The scenario is typified by a plethora of defections as politicians seek a platform that would best serve their ambitions. There has been a glee of defections in Edo State in recent times. The latest happened in Esanland, Edo Senatorial district, where the state governor, Monday Okpebholo, hails from.

The event held on April 14 at Eguare Primary School in Irrua, the heartbeat of Esan politics, saw Peoples Democratic Party heavyweights in the senatorial district join the APC. Notable among the defectors were former Senator Clifford Ordia and ex-House of Representatives member Joseph Edionwele, a development that immediately reconfigured alliances across Esanland and beyond. Some observers argue that the defections may be due to an internal crisis within the PDP.

What began as a routine political reception for the defectors quickly evolved into a symbolic realignment of influence in Edo Central, with major political figures openly declaring support for Governor Monday Okpebholo. It was a charged atmosphere featuring chants, solidarity songs, and repeated declarations that “Edo is shining”. That slogan echoed through the venue as APC stalwarts and supporters waved party colours and danced in procession from Usugbenu Junction to the event ground.

Governor Okpebholo, who formally received the defectors, described the moment as a reflection of growing consensus around governance performance. However, it was the weight of the political figures involved and the language they used that defined the significance of the event.

Ordia, a two-term senator representing Edo Central from 2015 to 2023, addressed the gathering in firm, conciliatory tones, positioning the move as a collective decision rooted in development priorities rather than partisan sentiment.

He said, “Performing governor of Edo State, today we have come with all sense of responsibility to join our brother to ensure that Edo State gets the requisite development. This is a clarion call for Esan people and all our brothers in the North and South of Edo State that the time has come for us to support what is good. Is the governor not working? What are we supposed to do? We are to join him, and we have joined him.”

These remarks were met with applause and audible chants of approval, as supporters responded in the affirmative. Interestingly, Ordia’s statement was symbolic as he is renowned as a legislator with deep institutional memory and established influence across Esan communities. His defection clearly signalled a recalibration within Edo Central’s elite political structure.

Joseph Edionwele, the PDP former member representing Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben Federal Constituency, followed with a more direct declaration of political alignment, framing the APC as the dominant platform in the region.

“We are here to celebrate that henceforth, APC is the official party in Esan land. You can see the performance. I said even when you are blind, you should see it. You should feel it”, he said.

Edionwele also stressed that the move was not about rivalry or displacement but alignment with governance outcomes. “We are here to join the performing governor. We are not here to compete with anybody but to complement performance. So don’t be afraid of your seat. We are not here to take over your seat.”

He also gave a hint about the bigger political migration that is underway, urging party chairmen at all levels to open their doors for new members. The political undertone was clear: a reordering of loyalty structures in Esanland, driven by both grassroots sentiment and elite recalibration.

Beyond the rhetoric, the implications are significant. The defection of Ordia and Edionwele into the APC represented the convergence of two critical political assets, a mix of legislative experience and grassroots mobilisation networks. It will affect the political developments in Edo Central.

For Okpebholo, the defection is a validation of his administration’s policy direction under the SHINE Agenda, comprising security, health, infrastructure, education and agriculture. According to him, the defections are a political endorsement of governance performance rather than mere party switching.

Yet, beneath the celebration lies a more complex political reality. The PDP, once dominant in Edo Central, now faces the challenge of maintaining relevance in the absence of key figures who have historically anchored its structure in the region. Observers say rebuilding that influence will require more than rhetoric; it will demand organisational restructuring and renewed grassroots engagement.

For the APC, however, this development represents an immediate strategic advantage. The party not only gains experienced political actors but also strengthens its presence in a region long considered decisive in Edo State electoral outcomes.

Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress also swelled its ranks in the district when its state chairman, Tony Alile, alongside party leader and former governorship aspirant, Kenneth Imasuagbon, received a large number of defectors from opposition parties in Ewohimi, Esan South East Local Government Area.

The defection, described by party leaders as a turning point in Edo’s political landscape, saw scores of card-carrying members of rival parties publicly align with the ADC, strengthening the party’s grassroots structure ahead of future elections.

Alile described the gathering as a spontaneous, people-driven movement, stressing that the turnout was a clear statement of frustration among Nigerians.

“This is an organic gathering; nobody was induced to be here. Despite initial challenges, the people stayed back. That tells you how Nigerians feel about the hardship imposed by the present government. This is the beauty of democracy and a victory for the people,” he said.

Imasuagbon termed the movement as “mass defection” and a popular revolt against entrenched political interests, insisting that sovereignty resides with the people.

“Edo people have made it clear that power does not belong to a few cartels. The declaration today in Esan South East is that enough is enough. We are tired of kidnapping, hunger and unemployment, and we have found a platform that can take us to Eldorado,” he said.