Ojiezele Osezua Sunday, a lawmaker representing the Esan South-East constituency, has defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The development means the number of PDP lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly is down to 13.

Ojiezele, a two-time lawmaker, was initially elected on the APC platform between 2019 and 2023. However, he later defected to the PDP and was re-elected in the 2023 general election.

His defection back to the APC has been described as a “homecoming” by the lawmaker.

According to Ojiezele, his decision to leave the PDP was due to the irreconcilable crisis rocking the party at both the state and national levels. He promised to woo more of his supporters back to the APC, a move that is expected to bolster the party’s strength in the state.

The lawmaker was received by the Acting State Chairman of the APC, Jarret Tenebe, alongside members of the state executive council. Tenebe welcomed Ojiezele back to the party and expressed confidence that more members of opposition parties would join the APC in the near future.

The Edo State House of Assembly was earlier composed of 14 PDP members, nine APC members, and one Labour Party member