Frank Okiye, a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Okiye’s resignation from the party came barely four days after Felix Akhabue, a former governorship aspirant, dumped the party.
Okiye was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2019 general election to represent Esan North-East II in the State House of Assembly.
He was sworn in as Speaker of the House on June, 2019, in controversial circumstances that saw 14 elected members perceived to be loyal to the former governor of the State, Adams Oshiomhole, not sworn in.
The former Speaker defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, alongside Governor Godwin Obaseki in 2020, when the governor was going for a second term.
He was, however, impeached by nine members of the Assembly in October 2020, two weeks after the re-election of Governor Godwin Obaseki for a second term in office.
Okiye’s resignation letter, dated May 10, 2024, and addressed to the Ward 3 Chairman of the PDP in Arue-Uromi, titled, ‘Withdrawal of membership of the Peoples Democratic Party’, was also copied to the Esan North-East council chairman of the party, as well as the Edo State chairman.
The erstwhile three-time member of the State House of Assembly said his decision to resign from the party stemmed from the alienation of the majority of his constituents and supporters by the State Government under Governor Obaseki from the activities and programs of the party and the government of the state.
He also hinged his decision on the alleged declaration by the party’s governorship candidate for the September 21 election, Asue Ighodalo, to continue Obaseki’s policies should he win the election.
“I write to officially inform you of my withdrawal of membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect.
“This decision Is stemmed from the alienation of the majority of my constituents and supporters by the State Government under Governor Obaseki from the activities and programs of the party and the Government of the state. As if that is not enough the party candidate has declared that he would continue in the Governor’s Principle should he win the September election, other reasons are those personal to me.
“On behalf of my family and supporters, | thank you and others for the opportunity given me to serve while in the Party,” he said.
