Senator Mathew Urhogide of Edo State and Senator Ayo Akinyelure of Ondo State have resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Their resignation was announced in two separate letters to Senate President Ahmad Lawan, which were read aloud during Wednesday’s plenary session.
Senator Urhogide, who represents Edo South Senatorial District in the red chamber and also chairs the Senate Public Accounts Committee (SPAC), stated in the letter that his decision to quit from the PDP with immediate effect was due to the party’s inability to reconcile the crisis in the party in Edo State and at the national level.
He stated, “My decision arose from the negative political energy emanating at the moment from the irreconcilable differences and squabbles within the PDP at the national level and especially in my dear state, Edo,” Urhoghide’s letter reads.
The Edo lawmaker said the “squabbles have spiked to levels” that have made it “impossible” for him, who is a “confirmed democrat,” to function and grow as envisioned in his political journey.
He, however, thanked the PDP for giving him the platform to serve as a two-team senator.
“The experience afforded me the opportunity to meet and work with all your wonderful colleagues.”
“The opportunity helped too to build and form important and lasting friendships here at the Senate.
“Above all else, it imbued in me knowledge and experience that could not have been gotten anywhere else,” he said.
His colleague, Senator Akinyelure, who represents Ondo Central Senatorial District and is also the chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions, said he intended to quit the party at the expiration of the 9th Senate session in order to venture into other things for the development of his native Ondo State and Nigeria at large.
