Edo PDP’s Ex-Governorship Candidate, Airhiavbere Joins APC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Edo State in the 2012 election, Maj. Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) yesterday defected to the ruling All Progressives Party (APC).

Airhiavbere, who was the state coordinator for Goodluck to Goodluck Campaign Organization in the March 28 presidential polls, told journalists yesterday that he had cross-carpeted with thousands of his supporters.

It is still being touted in certain quarters that the retired army chief may vie again for the governorship seat next year when Governor Adams Oshiomhole shall have completed his second term of four year.



Announcing his defection yesterday at a press conference, Airhiavbere said his decision to dump the PDP was informed by the need to join “team of change that has come to the nation in the last election of the March 28th 2015.”

He continued: “Any politicians who mean well for this state will ground their arms of hate and join the change train of the APC government ably led by His Excellency, Adams Oshiomhole. I know for sure that APC at the National and State, there will be rapid development and all campaign promises will be delivered to our dear state that is yearning for rapid development.

He said his foremost concern was to ensure that the APC wins majority number of seats at the April 11 state assembly
elections which he maintained was paramount to sustainable development in the state.

The general dismissed insinuations that he may have left due to fund starvation to the campaign platform he headed in the state for the president.

“ I want to state that everything about my campaign in 2012. PDP didn’t give me any money. My performance was purely on my own efforts and those that supported me. Even my campaign for Jonathan was also a personal effort.