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Tag: defect

  • APC chief, others defect to PDP in Bayelsa

    APC chief, others defect to PDP in Bayelsa

    A chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Jackson Suokiri, was among those who defected to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday at Odi in Kolokuma Okpokuma Local Government of Bayelsa State.

    Suokiri, a one-time secretary of PDP and commissioner defected to APC before the 2015 general election.

    He was among the faithful who welcomed Governor Seriake Dickson to Odi community when he visited the place on Monday to celebrate the New Year Day.

    Dickson admonished the political class to connect with the people, especially at the grassroots and not only when they needed their votes.

    He urged the political class to have contact with the electorate by visiting and interacting with them, stressing that it is by so doing that politicians will gain the trust and confidence of the people.

    The governor said as a grassroots politician, he would remain connected to the people in appreciation of the massive support he had received from them over the years.

    He said: “The power of the people is the most potent weapon you can find anywhere in the world; more potent than any armoury. The difference between me and many politicians is that I am a countryman. I connect with the people, I feel their pains, when they are happy I am happy and vice versa. I appreciate the people because they have made me what I am and above all, they have made PDP the strongest party, the only party that can win election in our state.

    “For those who seek political office, we must not go out to hurt people for their welfare and interest should ordinarily be the reason for being in politics. We should be civil as we carry out our activities in 2018, being a crucial year before the elections.”

    The Chief Whip of the House of Assembly and a member representing Kolokuma/Opokuma Constituency I,  Tonye Isenah, described Suokiri as a high profile politician, who had traversed the political landscape for decades, noting that his return would positively impact on PDP in the local government.

    He enjoined other APC members to retrace their steps, “as PDP remains the party of every right thinking Bayelsan, who means well for the state and its people.”

    PDP state Chairman Cleopas Moses hailed Suokiri for quitting APC for PDP, which he said was his home.

    He stressed that Suokiri was a committed and deep rooted PDP member before those wielding broom hoodwinked him into joining them.

    Moses noted that as a foundation member of the party, he had returned to rejoin the family he rightfully belonged to.

     

  • PDP members defect to APC in Gboko

    Hundreds of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Mbakpegh ward, Gboko, Benue State, at the weekend defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The defectors, most of who are associates of Secretary to the State Government Prof. Tony Ijohor (SAN), were led by James Terhemba, popularly known as Shehu, a former majority leader of the Gboko Legislative Council; PDP Chairman Verlumun Avar, and Agber Igba. They were received by the APC Chairman Abba Yaro.

    Yaro hailed the consistency and resilience of members of the APC and urged them to continue.

    He assured the new members of equal opportunities, and urged old members to remain firm in their support for Governor Samuel Ortom.

    The defectors cited the people-oriented policies of the Ortom-led administration in security, agriculture, anti-corruption, resolution of the famers/herdsmen crisis as reasons for their decision.

    Prof. Tony hailed the defectors for choosing to join the APC, describing it as a wise decision.

    He called on the people to pray for Ortom’s success, saying he is genuinely committed to transforming the state.

  • 300 defect to APC in Akwa Ibom

    300 defect to APC in Akwa Ibom

    •Ex-Speaker: no PDP in 2019

    Three hundred members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    They joined the party at a ceremony at the APC’s office in Oko Ita, headquarters of Ibiono Ibom council.

    Led by Chief Effiong Akpan Okon, a former PDP officer and Mr. Godwin Nse, a former ward officer, the defectors decried the impunity in the PDP, and pledged to work for APC’s victory in the local government and 2019 elections.

    The Chairman, Akparawa David Umoh, praised the defectors for their courage to abandon the PDP, which he called a sinking party, and assured them of fair treatment in the APC.

    A former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Ignatius Edet, said the APC was certain to win in 2019.

    “There will be nothing like PDP in Akwa Ibom State in 2019,” he said.

    Edet assured the defectors of proper accommodation in the APC.

  • Ex-PDP chief, 8,700 defect to APC

    A senator and 8,700 members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have defected to All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jigawa State.

    The lawmaker, Senator Danladi Abdullahi Sankara, said he led 8,700 PDP members to APC because the party was performing.

    He promised to be loyal to the party and its leadership at all levels.

    Sankara was the national vice chairman of PDP in charge of Northwest.

  • PDP members defect to APC in Delta

    PDP members defect to APC in Delta

    About 4,000 members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri Southwest Local Government of Delta State, at the weekend, defected to All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Gbaramatu Kingdom is a PDP stronghold.

    An APC chieftain and indigene of the kingdom, Chief Michael Johnny, who is deputy chair of the Mainstream Delta APC (MDA), a pressure group in the party, received the defectors, urging them to inform others that the salvation of the Ijaw would be realised through the APC.

    Addressing reporters, Vice Chairman of the state APC, Olorogun Cyril Ogodo, said hailed the ‘’submission’’ of Gbaramatu, describing it as key to winning Delta.

    He enjoined people to pray for the state to successfully go through the process of escaping the hold of PDP in 2019.

    “You should be in no doubt that Gbaramatu Kingdom is the backbone of the Ijaw. What you are witnessing here today is the final burial ceremony of PDP in Delta State because one area APC had not been able to crack in Delta State, since 2015, is this kingdom. But God has made it possible for us today. It’s a big plus for APC in Delta State.

    “My advice to Deltans is that they should be steadfast; be prayerful because to remove the Goliath in Delta State, you need the wisdom of God. That giant that has held Deltans hostage for more than 18 years. Prayers can remove them. APC and PDP are going to fight in 2019 and the war is going to bring freedom to the people. APC government is going to be in charge of this state from 2019.

    “The population you are seeing here is more than 3,000; you can see the hall here and you can see the people outside. You can see the brother of the deputy governor, Kingsley Otuaro, he spoke last. He’s among those who have just defected  to APC. We are harvesting them, we will not leave any stone unturned, we will go to the nooks and crannies of Ijaw to ensure they support APC,” Ogodo said.

    Johnny said the kingdom had been in turmoil since it fell into the hands of PDP, adding that the exclusion the majority of the people in Gbaramatu suffered under PDP would soon end.

    His words: “PDP has failed us. In Gbaramatu, you cannot point to one project they have executed, none in Burutu, none in Patani, none in Bomadi, none in Egbema, not even in parts of Warri South. It is because we are not united.”

    Dignitaries at the event include the state Secretary of the party, Comrade Chidi Okonji; Financial Secretary, Ebiakpo Ezebiri; an elder from Oporoza, traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu, Chief Joel Gbanale and others.

  • Edo APC lawmaker: I won’t defect

    Edo APC lawmaker: I won’t defect

    The lawmaker representing Oredo East constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Osaigbovo Iyoha, has distanced himself from alleged plans by some lawmakers to dump the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Iyoha, who is Chairman, House Committee on Commerce and Industry, said he was aware that Governor Godwin Obaseki has paid the entitlements.

    Iyoha was reacting to a report that some lawmakers elected on the platform of the APC were threatening to dump the party over the refusal of the governor to provide good welfare package, especially for the trip to the United States to attend the annual Edo Convention.

    He described the report as orchestrated by some fifth columnists, who wanted to cause mischief in the state.

    Iyoha said the lawmakers were aware of the lean finances of the state, adding that they could not have make demanded money to travel to the United States for the purpose of attending Edo Convention.

    His words, “As far as I am concern, the governor is not owing us any entitlement. We have been paid as at when due. We know things are difficult at this time in this country. It is not something akin to only Edo.

    “There is general hardship in the country due to drop in the price of oil. You no longer go to Abuja think there is a bazaar there. We do not expect the governor to secure loans to service a few people. Whenever we vote for the governor to borrow money, we know it is for the good of the state. The governor is not owing us any entitlement.

    Iyoha added: “It is not true the governor has refused to release money for overseas trip. If things get better, there is no reason for the governor not to approve for such trip. If the money is not there, I do not know what magic you want the governor to perform. The governor has been supporting the lawmakers and the House has been responsive.

    “We are not starved of fund. The man is working. If Edo people are happy with the governor, I think the lawmakers should be happy because they are the representatives of the people.”

  • Lagos PDP urges members not to defect

    Lagos PDP urges members not to defect

    Factional chairman of Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Otunba Segun Adewale, has urged members who were planning to defect to other parties to shelve the idea.

    Adewale who stormed the party’s secretariat at Shogunle, Lagos with his supporters said he had come to take over the secretariat. He said his taking over of the party’s apparatus would usher in new beginning for Lagos PDP.

    Addressing his supporters, he explained that he was taking over the secretariat, following the alleged decision of the Moshood Salvador group to join the Advance Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA).

    He said: “By this action we have taken, we have put an end to PDP failure in Lagos State. We will ensure that we successfully participate in the council election scheduled to take place on July 22 and make some success. Those who have led us in the past like Chief Bode George have not made any impact, because there is no record to show that PDP won any election in Lagos under his leadership.”

    The PDP chieftain recalled several efforts made to ensure unity in the party in the state, but were rebuffed by Salvador’s faction.

    Adewale further said the failure of the PDP to take over Lagos State was due to fact that the leadership under George had been doing nothings since 2003. He added: “You cannot be doing things the same way and expect to get different results.”

    He said the party was working hard to win the coming local government poll in July and the 2019 governorship election.

    He said: “We have been running for election since 2003 and have been failing. This is the only secretariat in Nigeria that has not won governorship election in the history of PDP. It is high time and all we are saying is, give us the opportunity, I mean our own generation, to do that for the PDP.

    “So we are the Sheriff faction and by law, the Appeal Court affirmed by its judgment that we are the authentic faction. Sheriff was the one that conducted our own party congress here in Lagos that brought me as chairman of Lagos PDP. By that they should honour and respect the office.”

    Adewale called on members of the party, who he said might have been deceived to move to APDA, to return to the PDP in order to ensure total victory for the party in the coming local government election.

  • Scores of PDP members defect to APC in Akwa Ibom

    Scores of members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State on Wednesday defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Mkpat Enin, one of the largest local government areas in the state.

    Among the defectors are five former councillors – Utitofon Jeremiah, Monday Ekim, Edikan Ekpo, Christopher Inang and Ute Akpabio.

    Others included former local government supervisors, special advisers and former PDP local government chapter and ward officers, including Chief Cardinal Essien, a former chairman of PDP ward chairmen in Mkpat Enin for nine years.

    APC Vice Chairman for Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, Emmanuel Oton, received the defectors from the 14 wards in Mkpat Enin.

    He said the mass defection had depleted the ranks of PDP members in the area.

    Enin said APC was sure of victory in 2019 general election as the broom revolution was sweeping fast through the state, including Governor Udom Emmanuel’s village, Awa Iman, in Onna Local Government Area.

    Some of the governor’s cousins have defected from the PDP to the APC.

    APC Chairman in Mkpat Enin, Uduak Inoh, described the defectors as strong grassroots politicians.

    He noted that with their defection, the PDP had collapsed in the area.

    The politician assured them of equal rights in APC, as enshrined in the party’s constitution.

    Utitofon Jeremiah, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, said their move had taken the oxygen mask from the PDP in Mkpat Enin.

    He said the lifeline the ruling party in the state was managing to breathe with had been removed.

    Jeremiah, also a one-time Supervisor for Education in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, said the defectors were on a redemption mission for Mkpat Enin youths, who he said had been enslaved by the PDP for years.

    He said more youths would soon dump the PDP for the APC.

  • Mimiko’s commissioner, aide join APC

    Mimiko’s commissioner, aide join APC

    •‘There’s greed in PDP’

    Ondo State Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperative Services Mrs Yetunde Adeyanju has resigned her appointment.

    She submitted her resignation letter yesterday afternoon, and issued a press statement where she announced her defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Also, Giwa Rasheed, a special assistant to Governor Olusegun Mimiko, also resigned and defected to APC.

    Adeyanju said with the resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government, “ a huge burden has been lifted off my shoulders. The relief came from a refreshing freedom a political family where impunity reigns, freedom from subversion of democratic principles and indeed, freedom from deification of sycophancy.”

    The statement continues:” In the last seven years, I have served in various executive capacities in the state. I started as executive chairman of Ondo State Waste Management Board, moved to head Ondo State Development Company Limited as executive chairman and finally, as commissioner in the Ministry of Community Development and Cooperative Services. Wherever I served, I discharged my duties with utmost dedication and unassailable integrity; notwithstanding the culture of greed, avarice and absolute disregard for the masses.”

    She added: ”Having exited the conundrum of capricious politics, I have, therefore, decided to align myself with true progressives in the APC.  While I salute the patriots in the APC, I also want to hail President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade.

    “It is, therefore my great pleasure to renounce my membership of PDP and announce my membership of APC.”

     

  • Two PDP House members defect to APC

    Two PDP House members defect to APC

    Two House of Representatives members, Tony Nwoye (PDP-Anambra) and Emmanuel Udende (PDP-Benue) yesterday defected from the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress, (APC) on the floor at plenary.

    Speaker Yakubu Dogara read the separate letters with which the members announced their intentions to dump the party due to factionalisation in the party.

     Dogara also overturned attempts to debate the issue on the floor by aggrieved members of the PDP.

    But the PDP caucus in the House has vowed to institute a suit against them for defecting to the APC.

    The two lawmakers, in their letters, alleged that they were constrained in serving their constituencies effectively because of the crisis rocking the leadership of PDP as a result of the aborted National Convention of the party held in Port Harcourt recently.

    Ali Modu Sheriff, immediate past PDP acting National Chairman, Ahmed Makarfi and Jerry Gana, are heading three different factions of the PDP.

    Leo Ogor, Minority Leader , in his reaction vowed that the party will ensure that the two lawmakers vacate their seats in the Green Chamber.

    According to him, the resignation letters of the two lawmakers are unconstitutional, he added that section 68(g) of the 1999 constitution (as amended) provides that any member who must resign on the platform where he/she was elected must declare his/her seat vacant.

    He said: “I have told those who care to listen that there is no division in the PDP. Clearly the the PDP is one family and in line with the Constitution in line with Section 68g, which I quoted on the floor is clear on this. We had a national convention, signed by the then national chairman, Ali Modu-Sheriff.

    “The party itself went for that convention in Port-Harcourt and you know that the party convention is the highest organ of the party. It has the power to elect and remove anyone, and we saw the decisions that were taken in Port-Harcourt. And no court of competent jurisdiction has today ruled that there is any faction in PDP. Neither is there any recognised faction.

    Ogor said there is a Supreme Court ruling on the matter. “I pity those young men. They really don’t know what they have done. But for me, I am a law abiding citizen and I can tell you that by tomorrow morning, my party will be headed to court once I have the Order Paper for the day.

    “ We will be in court to make sure we vacate those seats, then we go for an election to replace those interlopers. They think they can go to APC, so easily but they are wrong. So long as we have a Supreme Court ruling on this matter, I am sure, they are history,” Ogor said.

    Ogor said the two members have made a critical mistake by failing to consult with the PDP caucus in the House before making their decision public on the floor of the House.

    His words: “I was not really expecting this. I am so shocked. I am so disappointed with those young men. I would have thought that they would have discussed this kind of issue with me and they know that there is no faction in the PDP. But for reasons best know to them, they are trying to create a faction.

    “There is a Supreme Court ruling on the issue of factions, that there must be a clear division in the national executive of a party for you to say there are factions. You cannot just wake up and say, you had your own convention. And if indeed some people held a convention, they did it on their own.

    “They are not even members of the national executive. None of them is. Sheriff was even in Port-Harcourt, he went through clearance.”