Ahead of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, the All Progressives Congress, on Wednesday, received hundreds of defectors from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, the Labour Party and the Africa Democratic Congress.

The defectors were received at Igueben, the headquarters of the Igueben Local Government area of the state.

Receiving the defectors, the Director-General of the APC Campaign Council, Matthew Urhoghide, assured them of fair treatment, noting that all members were equal in the APC.

He expressed belief in the APC governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, saying he would embrace everyone without discrimination.

Urhoghide said, “I welcome you all to the APC. I am excited that you are joining our party, which is also yours. In the APC, we are all equal.

“Now that you have joined the right party, I can assure you that our candidate, Okpebholo, will listen to the yearnings of the people. All you need is cast your vote for the APC on September 21.”

Also speaking, the Coordinator of the APC Campaign Council in the Edo Central Senatorial District, Odianosen  Okojie, appealed to the defector to come out en masse on September 21 to cast t their votes for the APC.

Earlier, the APC governorship candidate, Okpebholo, while addressing the party supporters at his hometown, Ujabhole in Uwesan, Esan Central Local Government Area, said he was confident of home support.

“My people have asked me not to bother to campaign here because I have their support and votes already,” he said.

Okpebholo’s running mate, Dennis Idahosa, similarly urged the party supporters to troop out on election day to vote for the PDP.

A former governor of Edo State,  Adams Oshiomhole, speaking at Irrua, the headquarters of the Esan Central Local Government Area, alleged that the PDP had no candidate and that the people should not waste their vote on election day.

“The PDP as a party has no candidate as we talk. The Federal High Court, Abuja has said so. The process that brought Asue Ighodalo in the primaries was also faulted by the court, so don’t go and waste your vote for PDP,” Oshiomhole said.

Punch