Former governorship aspirant and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Barrister Ken Imansuangbon(aka the Riceman), Wednesday resigned his membership of the party.
The frontline Edo politician became a household name in the state and beyond for his free annual rice sharing and other philanthropic gesture.
In a statement he personally endorsed and copied his Esan South East Ward 2 Chairman, the local government and state Chairman of the party, Tony Aziegbemi, he was silent on his reason for taking the decision.
The colorful politician however thanked the entire body and leadership of the PDP even as he described his experience in the party as memorable.
Imansuangbon in a four paragraph letter stated, “Since 2009 in what was tagged the ‘Ewohimi Declaration’ where I had joined the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP it has remained a memorable journey for me and I want to thank God almighty for his benevolence.
“The course of my political journey in the PDP had afforded me the opportunity to make great and wonderful friends and had shared great moments which I will cherish for a lifetime.
“However, the reality of the moment has made it decisive that there comes a time in a man’s life where he has to move ahead.
“Consequently, therefore I hereby tender my resignation of the membership of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. Once again, I thank the entire leadership and body of the PDP.”
Recall that Imansuangbon joined the governorship race since 2007 having worked assiduously for the PDP and later the Grace Group, the PDP faction that thereafter metamorphosed into Action Congress(AC) and Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) and later All Progressives Congress(APC).
Imansuagbon has consistently contested for the governorship and in all was always prevailed upon to step down which he does in patriotism to the party.
In 2020 he was on the verge of grabbing the PDP governorship ticket when he was prevailed upon to step down for Governor Godwin Obaseki who moved from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP a few weeks to the governorship poll which he did in patriotism to the party.
Imasuangbon and Engineer Gideon Ikhine, two credible PDP governorship aspirants from Esanland, stepped down to allow Obaseki to run for his second term.
There are speculations that the acclaimed ‘Riceman’ is weighing his option of moving to either the APC or Labour Party(LP).
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