Speakers of Delta and Edo State Houses of Assembly have described the mass defection from Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) for All Progressive Congress, (APC) in the region as a significant political realignment in the South-South region.
They said this when the Edo State Governor, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, played host to some members of the Delta State House of Assembly (DSHA) led by the Speaker, Hon Dennis Guwor, in Benin City, the state capital.
The speaker and his team were in Benin, in solidarity with their counterparts in the Edo State House of Assembly, where members elected on the platform of the PDP including the Speaker, Hon Blessing Agbebaku, defected to APC.
Guwor, who is the national treasurer, Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria, described the mass defection of PDP members to APC.
He said the movement signals a new chapter in South-South politics, with Delta and Edo states strengthening ties under the APC.
Guwor told the Edo State Governor that the camaraderie that exists between members of the Delta and Edo State Houses of Assembly has been overwhelming, hence the solidarity with the Speaker, Hon Blessing Agbebaku and others that were defecting from PDP to the APC.
The speaker informed the Edo Governor that 22 PDP members in the Delta State Assembly, including himself, had earlier in the day formally signed off PDP for APC during the resumed plenary session of the House same Tuesday.
Guwor said it was a well thought out decision, done in the overall best interest of Deltans and pledged support for the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
Agbebaku, while receiving the Delta delegation, commended them for their show of unity and progressive alliance.
Responding, the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the visit of a team of legislators from Delta State was a great honour to the state.
On the entourage of Hon Guwor were the majority leader of the Delta State Assembly, Hon Emeka Nwaobi, Chief Whip, Perkins Umukoro, Deputy Chief Whip, Fred Martins, Majority Whip, Bernard Odior, as well as Charles Emetulu, Ndokwa West, Emmanuel Sinebe, Patani, Bridget Anyafulu, Oshimili South and Blessing Achoja, Ethiope West.