Barely 19 days before the September 21 governorship election, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and a lawmaker who represented Akoko-Edo II in the state House of Assembly from 2015 to 2023, Emmanuel Agbaje, has dumped the party.
In a letter to his Ward 10 chairman in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area dated September 2, 2024, Agbaje complained of alienation and alleged sidelining in the scheme of things in the party and his ward.
The letter read in part, “This decision has not been taken lightly, but after careful consideration and consultation with my support base and leaders, I believe it is the best course of action for me at this time.
“Since democracy provides for choices, I am entitled to review my involvement and seek alignment that recognizes loyalty, dedication, and sacrifices. I can no longer accept the deliberate alienation and the sidelining of core Party faithful and leaders particularly from our ward.
“As a founding member of the party, it is a difficult decision considering the relationships built within the party over the years as well as the feelings of good friends who may choose to remain, my assurances are that our friendship and relationships remain protected and insulated. Life outside politics is larger.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your leadership and support during my time in the party. I have valued our working relationship and the shared commitment we have had to the ideals of the APC, I look forward to a continuous robust relationship that benefits our people and communities.”
Agbaje was the only APC lawmaker in the state House of Assembly besides the 14 that were not inaugurated in 2019.
He did not defect with Governor Godwin Obaseki from the APC to the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the 2020 governorship election and it was gathered that from that time till his tenure ended, he was denied all entitlements as a lawmaker except his monthly salary.
It was gathered that he was not also consulted when the APC governorship campaign council was being constituted as members who were then in the PDP in his ward were made members of the council without consulting him.
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