...As Ebo Stone Resigns, Says PDP in Edo is losing it 

Facts have emerged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hemorrhage is set to assume threatening dimension in the next few days.

Our reporter gathered authoritatively that the PDP will suffer its heaviest loss of members to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to the privileged information, arrangements have been concluded for over 200 members, including 142 local government executive officers drawn from Ward 1 to 12 Oredo Local Government Area to defect from the party.

The document revealed also that Governor Godwin Obaseki will suffer more in his Ward 4 where over 60% of EXCO members will exit the party.

The governor has been having running battle with his Oredo PDP local government chairman since joining the PDP. 

It will be recalled also that Governor Obaseki has never won his polling unit since 2016, save for the last House of Assembly election that he won after the cancellation of early one he lost.

Earlier on Wednesday, Hon. Mark Idah, Councilor and brother to Chief Osaro Idah, political associate to Obaseki, resigned his membership in what an insider called, "the preamble to the tsunami that will follow soon.”

Hon. Idah noted that, “…it’s only God that can save PDP” in the September 21, 2024, governorship election.

Also, Kelly Okungbowa (aka Capacity Ebo Stone), National Coordinator Youth for Youth, who just resigned his membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has given reasons for his action. 

Addressing a Press Conference on Wednesday morning, the political mobiliser said that he left the party with the entire members of the youth group contrary to insinuations in certain quarters that he was alone in his action. 

According to him, “A lot of people would be saying it was only Ebo Stone that resigned yesterday. Being the National Coordinator of this movement I didn’t resign my membership of PDP alone but with all my members in Youth for Youth. By the grace of God, Youth for Youth is the biggest youth platform in Edo State. We are across the 192 wards of the 18 local government areas of Edo State. 

“The reason we are all gathered here this morning is to officially announce to the whole people of Edo State, home and abroad, that I have resigned my membership of PDP. We want to make the public to understand that we have our reasons of leaving the party. We cannot be in a place where there’s no truth. We cannot be in a place where there’s no honesty. We cannot be in a house that is divided by itself. 

“That’s why we deemed it fit after a long consultation with my friends my family, my well-wishers and my supporters, most especially the members of Youth for Youth. We know it was a difficult decision for us to take but in life sometimes it is good you take a bold step. You may not look at the action the way you want but what’s important is for you to have your peace and your rest of mind so that the people that you’re leading would also be grateful when the time comes. 

“On this note, we decided to resign from the PDP. In a very short time the public, the good people of Edo State and my people in the diaspora will see the direction that Youth for Youth will be going to. And for the party that we’re going to work for, we will announce it at a later date that everybody would hear because anything that we are doing we do it openly. We’re not afraid of anybody. 

“We know a lot of intimidation will come but we’re not afraid. We’re used to it. I want to assure the public that what we fought for in 2020 we can also do the same in 2024. A lot of attack would come. People would say all sorts of things but it’s none of our business. As long as you are alive, people would always talk about you. No matter how good you think you may be, not everybody will like what you’re doing. By the grace of God, we’re here today as members of Youth for Youth, the biggest youth platform in Edo State. We have resigned our membership of PDP. By the grace of God, Edo people would bear with us and would wait patiently for us to take our next decision.”

Asked to expatiate his reasons for leaving the PDP when he should have benefitted much from his contributions to its success in the past, he averred: “In life it’s not everything you labour for that you will always enjoy. It takes the grace of God for a human being to appreciate your good work and what you have done for them. Only God knows what’s in my mind right now, but I cannot say all. I will have to reserve some, with time I will speak about them. 

“You already know what I did for the party (PDP) in 2020 when my name became a household name. I rejected a lot of offers. If I mention the amount a lot of you will say that I took a very wrong step. I decided not to take that money in 2016 to work for the people of Edo State. The present governor (Godwin Obaseki) was brought to us, and we were told he was the best man for the job. 

“Maybe some things may have transpired between them later we don’t know, but in 2020, they came back to say he was not the right person for the job. Reason best known to them. But on my part, the way I was brought up, I don’t want to deceive somebody. When I am with you, I am with you.”

Though he didn’t make a disclosure of the Youth for Youth’s next destination, there are whispers in political quarters that the group may finally opt for the All Progressives Congress (APC).