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Tag: defection

  • RTEAN President, others defect to APC in Edo

    RTEAN President, others defect to APC in Edo

    Defection gale has hit the People’s Democratic Party in Edo State as many of the party faithfuls last weekend joined the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

    In Esan North East local government, National President of the Road Transport Employers Association (RTEAN) and chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Alhaji Musa Isiwele led hundreds of his supporters to join the APC at Uromi.

    Uromi is the home town of the former PDP’s BoT chairman, Chief Tony Anenih and former minister of works under PDP administration, Chief Mike Onolememen.

    In Esan West local government area, PDP Ward 3 unit chairman, Mr Julius Ebhoman, led other PDP members in the ward to join the APC.

    At Otuo in Owan East local government, Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon Pally Iriase received hundreds of PDP defectors led by a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Roland Omatoje.

    Hon Iriase said the defection would further replete the PDP in the locality and boost the APC chances in future elections in the state.

    He said the PDP was overwhelmed by the infrastructural development being attracted to the locality and across the state.

    The RTEAN President who is regarded as strong force for the PDP in Uromi urged his followers to have faith in the APC.

    Alhaji Isiwele stated that the PDP as a political organisation has failed and lacked viable political future in Edo State.

    He said the decision to dump the PDP was informed by the desire to contribute his quota in the new agenda of the ruling government which in his words would take Edo central to the “Promised Land”.

    Isiwele added that Edo central people need to bring their astuteness into the APC and ensure that their interests are promoted and protected.

    Among dignitaries present at the ceremony were the State APC Chairman, Barr. Anselm Ojezua, All the Edo Central L.G.A. Chairmen, Chief (Dr) Francis Inegbeniki, the Uzoya of Esanland, Arc.(Dr) Austin Ilenre Emuan, the APC leader of Esan north east L.G. A., Chief Okoror and host of others.

    State Secretary of the APC, Lawrence Okah, said more PDP chieftains have indicated interest to join the APC.

    Okah said the PDP would be nothing in the state especially in Edo Central after the defection.

    Reacting, State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Chris Nehikhare said the party was not bothered about the defection.

    Chris stated that the party’s leadership concern is how to restructure the party and make it attractive to Edo people.

    He said, “Those defecting are doing because of economic situation and we sympathise with them. We are interested in the electorate and not in a few people.

    “Their leaving will not affect our chances in future elections in the state. We will affect us is if we do not carry out our restructuring plan”.

  • Mass defection hits Delta PDP as Sheriff faction joins APC

    Mass defection hits Delta PDP as Sheriff faction joins APC

    The camp of the opposition All Progressive Congress (Delta chapter) swelled Saturday when supporters of the former national chairman of PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff joined the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

    The over 14,000 loyalists were led into APC by former deputy national chairman of the PDP, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh,

    Ojougboh, former member of House of Representatives, was also a former vice chairman of PDP in the South-South zone.

    Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu who hails from the state; national vice chairman of APC (S/S), Mr. Hilliard Eta; chairman of the party in the state, Jones Erue; O’tega Emerhor and Hyacinth Enuha were among APC chieftains that received the new members at a ceremony in Agbor, Ika South L.G.A.

    The ceremony witnessed the symbolic dumping of PDP membership cards into a waste basket and the lowering of a huge PDP banner thus signaling the rejection of the party by the former members.

    Dr. Ojougboh said they were suffocated out of PDP, adding that after the Supreme Court judgment that affirmed the Ahmed Markafi national leadership, members of the Sheriff faction were sidelined.

    His words, “We asked the national body to open up the party after the unfortunate court judgment; the next thing we heard was that they were going to grant us amnesty as if we are criminals. When Raymond Dokpesi was nominated as member of the committee for the non-elective convention, his nomination was rejected because they said they spent money on the court judgment”.

    Continuing, “As if that was not enough, during the Anambra State governorship primary election, Jerry Gana was made chairman of a three-man committee to midwife a transparent election but governors Ayo Fayese of Ekiti State and Nyesom Wike of Rivers State rejected it and came up with another committee that went to Anambra and handed everything to Peter Obi.

    “Back here in Delta, we asked the state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa to remove impunity but what we continue to see here is a corrupt and family government. Till date, Okowa has not been able to account for the N20 billion Paris Club refund”.

    According to Ojugboh ,”We now said it is time to look for people of like minds, people of progressive ideology to meet with because I know most of you have ambitions to pursue. If we do not make a decision to belong to the progressives, most of you will miss out.”

    Former factional chairman of the PDP in the state, Mr. Austin Ogbaburhon told APC chieftains that the Sheriff faction is a beautiful bride, adding that they have rejected offers from other political parties and enjoined APC to negotiate well.

    Receiving the new entrants, vice chairman of APC, South-South, Mr. Hilliard Eta said the new members have further brightened the party’s chances to wrest power from the PDP in the state come 2019.

    “For us at the national working committee of the APC, Delta is a low hanging fruits for us to pluck but the coming of Ojougboh and his teeming supporters has made the fruits even lower for us.

    “We welcome you into the party and urge you to go to your units and wards to register. Registration is free and you will add value to APC,” Eta said.

  • Sheriff group: we’re not aware of defection

    Sheriff group: we’re not aware of defection

    The spokesman for the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff group in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Bernard Mikko, has said the group was not aware of the movement by some party members to the Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN).

    Speaking on phone yesterday with our correspondent, Mikko said: “We are not aware of members of our group joining any other political party. Even if that happens, we cannot stop anyone from joining any political association of their choice.

    “For now, we are still studying details of the Supreme Court judgment with the view to taking informed decision after due consultations.”

    Sheriff and his loyalists had stayed away from consultative meetings convened on Monday and Tuesday by the Ahmed Makarfi leadership of the PDP.

    The meetings, which were held at the Abuja secretariat of the party, recorded a large turnout of stakeholders, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, governors, National Assembly members, ex-ministers and other prominent party chieftains.

  • Another PDP lawmaker defects to APC in Lagos Assembly

    Another PDP lawmaker defects to APC in Lagos Assembly

    One out of the remaining two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member in the Lagos State House, Hon. Victor Akande representing Ojo 1 constituency has defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

    Akande informed the House of his defection at plenary yesterday through a letter he addressed to the Speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa and read by the Clerk of the Assembly, Mr. Azeez Sanni.

    In the letter, Akande said he was defecting because of the factionalisation of PDP not just to two but four factions especially in Lagos State.

    “My defection is to further continue support of adding legislative excellence to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and the political leadership of the Speaker of the Lagos Assembly who has impacted on legislative standard in the state.

    “PDP has fallen apart and the centre can no longer hold so I have chosen to follow the stable APC. I thank PDP for giving me the political platform to showcase myself. I also thank my constituents and traditional rulers in my constituency for their support. I will continue to give them better representation and for me this is an home coming”, Akande said.

    Acknowledging the letter after he was given the chànce to speak, Akande who described himself as the last PDP man standing in the Lagos Assembly because “Markafi has since told his supporters to move over to the Labour party”, said he moved to APC with the blessings of his people from Ojo 1 constituency, royal fathers and all indigenes and non-indigenes of the constiruency.

    “I consulted widely before arriving at the decision to dump PDP for APC. I hereby shed the garb of PDP and I want to now be clothed with the APC garb”, Akande said.

    Congratulating Akande for the bold decision, his counterpart from Ojo 2 constituency, Hon. Lanre Ogunyemi said, “Akande has made our day in Ojo with this defection, because actually there is nothing more for him to do in the PDP than to move to the moving train of the APC.”

    Also congratulating Akande, speaker Obasa congratulated his colleagues for their good nature which made all the defections possible. He also thanked Akande for coming on board the APC, “we know you are a man of integrity and we are sure that image will reflect in our party”, Obasa said.

  • I’ve no plan to leave PDP, says Ogbulafor

    I’ve no plan to leave PDP, says Ogbulafor

    A former National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, said on Tuesday that he had no plan to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Ogbulafor said this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia.

    He said there was no truth in a media report that he was holding talks with chieftains of APC in Abia on how to defect to the party.

    Ogbulafor, however, recalled that when APC won the presidential election in 2015, he visited the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, to congratulate him.

    He said the gesture should not be misconstrued, adding that he had no intention of joining APC.

    The former national chairman said, “I am still in PDP and I have not discussed with any other person on plans to defect to APC.’’

    On the judiciary, he said, “I have confident in the judiciary. It has given us victory in Abia with the affirmation of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu as governor and it will give us victory in PDP.’’

    Ogbulafor further said that he had implicit confidence in the nation’s judiciary to deliver judgment, in a fair manner, in the party’s leadership crisis.

    He further said that PDP remained popular and leading political party in all the 774 local government areas in the country.

    “The judiciary appreciated that it is not good for Nigeria to be a one-party state because it appreciates that one party system is not good for the nation’s democracy.”

     

  • Ndoma-Egba hails Ita-Giwa over defection

    Ndoma-Egba hails Ita-Giwa over defection

    The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, has described the defection of the erstwhile Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as welcome development.

    The NDDC chairman made the remark in a press statement signed by his Special Assistant on Communication, Mrs. Clara Braide.

    Ndoma-Egba said Ita-Giwa’s decision to join the APC came at a time when all people of goodwill were moving over to contribute their quota towards the development of the country, through the party.

    He said: Your coming to the APC at this point in our fledgling democracy is a pointer to your sincere commitment to deploy your wealth of experience, with other democrats, for the betterment of your region and the nation as a whole.”

    The board chairman expressed optimism that judging from Ita-Giwa’s antecedents as a team player, grassroots mobiliser and party faithful, the APC’s gradual push to take over the Southsouth was progressively becoming a reality.

    “We all are aware of the interesting political story of this great woman of note and how she has been able to galvanise the people of her community to pursue a course that they hold dear in a non-political and non-military way.”  He added: “The party can benefit from her immense wealth of experience and tap into her political structure for our party’s greater good. She is a good catch. This move is a further endorsement for President Muhammadu Buhari.”

    Ita-Giwa, popularly known as “Mama Bakassi,” and the strong lady of Cross River State politics, dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC, on the grounds that she needed a credible platform to continue her political life and contribute to the advancement of the society.

  • PDP leaders defect to APC in Uyo

    PDP leaders defect to APC in Uyo

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State suffered a devastating blow on Monday with the defection of some prominent leaders of the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Coming under the aegis of the Uyo Elders/Stakeholders Advisory Forum, the defectors included three former local government chairmen, Chief Clement Ekott, Mr. Aniekan Ubia and Mr. Fidelis Eddie, and a former State Surveyor-General, Surveyor Okokon Essien.

    Receiving the defectors, the APC State Chairman, Dr. Amadu Attai, recalled that the APC started in Uyo and expressed gratitude to the people of the state capital for their steadfast support to the party over the years.

    He declared that the APC was on an unstoppable march to the Government House in 2019.

    Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Chief Ekott, who said he had been in politics since 1979, pledged their commitment to the success of the APC in Uyo.

    Also speaking, Mr. Eddie said with the calibre of the defectors, who he described as the finest crop of Uyo politicians, the APC was certain to win every election in the state capital.

    A former Commissioner for Economic Development and APC leader in Uyo, Dr. Chris Ekong, commended the defectors for taking the bold step to join the moving train of change.

    Tracing the political history of Uyo, he reasoned that the state capital with its nearly 200,000 votes was the deciding area in governorship elections in the state.

    Others who spoke were Mkpisong Pius Okon and Obonganwan Victoria Eberefiak.

    The event was attended by several prominent politicians including the APC Uyo Chapter Chairman, Mr. Gabriel Ikpe, the immediate past House of Assembly Member for Uyo, Mr. Edwin Joseph, and two former local government chairmen, Arc. Essien Nkanga and Otuekong Ekerete Ekpenyong.

  • Igbo leaders endorse lawmaker’s defection

    Igbo leaders endorse lawmaker’s defection

    Igbo groups in Lagos under the platform of Ndigbo United have  supported the only Igbo lawmaker in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Jude Idimogu, who defected from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC). He defected along with five other PDP legislators.

    At a meeting held in Isolo by Igbo leaders, the traditional head, Ugochiniyere Asianya, said they were satisfied with the reasons adduced by the legislators for his defection.

    Asianya said the decision taken by the legislator was wisebecause it will protect the interest of the Igbo in Lagos.

    He said: “Go out and say it loud that we are in support of your defection,we will follow you everywhere you go. Tell the leadership of the House that the Igbo nation in Lagos support your action,we give 100 percent support to the ruling party”.

    According to him, the lawmaker has all it takes to go far, as he has demonstrated high level of humility in the office.

    Another Igbo leader, Ikem Agbasi,  said :”I am pleased with the way the lawmaker has conducted himself so far. We will support you anywhere you go ,we are fully behind you,” he assured the lawmaker.

    The Lagos APC Publicity  Secretary, Mr Joe Igbokwe, called on  Ndigbo in Lagos to support and be loyal to the ruling party. He urged the Igbo people to change their strategy in politics and remain united to protect the interest of the Igbo nation in Lagos.

    Igbokwe said: “We have developed this country together, we have investments everywhere,  we are not going to leave them for anybody. Adding that, “there is no permanent friend or enemy  in politics, our people need to change strategy, Igbo people should work with APC. I want to appeal to all of us to sit down and play better politics.”

    A member of APC Board of Trustee, Dr Ken Modi Ken, also expressed satisfaction with Idimogu’s defection to the APC, saying the decision was right for the Igbo vision. “I am happy that you have joined the ruling party,we need to protect the Igbo investment in Lagos, the economy of Lagos is in our hands. The APC will not disappoint you all,” he said.

    Explaining why he defected, Idimogu said he took the decision in the interest of Igbos in Lagos and not for any selfish reason.

    He said:  “As the only Igbo member in the Lagos Assembly, l am supposed to be the voice for the Igbos in Lagos but it’s difficult for me as a member of opposition party, PDP.

    “Four years will soon be over, and many of you will ask me directly or indirectly what are my achievements. I want to achieve, I don’t want to be a failure.

    “Of course, the government of Mr Akinwumi Ambode has shown me love, the leadership of the House has be magnanimous enough but the truth remains there are things I wouldn’t get as a PDP member.

    “We should not forget, we are in Lagos, this is Lagos, I want all of us to support Ambode to achieve greatness. At our villages, we can do whatever we like, but here in Lagos, the party is the way.”

    He informed the Igbo leaders that since he moved to APC, some infrastructural projects had been penciled ins by the governor for the constituency.

    “As I speak with you now, since I join APC another four new roads have been approved in my constituency. So, we will miss so many things if we play opposition here. I should not be a fool.

    “So, I have thought about it, this step is necessary to protect the interest of Igbo people and my constituents. Majority of Igbo in Lagos are businessmen and women, we must try and support the ruling party.”

    Earlier, the Chairman of the event, Chief Ejikeme Okeke,   called on Ndigbo to support Idimogu for second term.

  • Defection furore

    It was quite sensational: Andy Uba’s defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), from the former ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Just like that: PDP today, APC tomorrow, another party the next day, and no blinking eyes!  That’s how Nigeria’s ultra-elastic democracy rolls!

    Just two years ago, in the heat of the 2015 general election, Uba was a proud  soldier of that “Christian” army, in the Southeast and much of the Southsouth, that scoffed at APC as “Islamic” party.

    But two years down the line, what has changed?  Has APC become “Christian” or Uba become “Muslim”, so much so that man and party now not only see eye-to-eye, but hug themselves in ecstasy, like some long lost but now found friends?

    Of course, you believe that election-time comedy, you believe anything!  The notorious fact is, whatever has changed — or unchanged — Senator Uba crossed the carpet, to where he feels his new interests would be buttered — and jammed!  Hardly a crime!

    But PDP isn’t finding it funny — nor would you!  But frankly, no tears for PDP on this one.  In all its years in government — all 16 years of it — it nurtured subversion of the opposition; and the murder of morality in party matters, into some satanic art.  It not only welcomed defectors from the underdog opposition with relish, it unabashedly instigated such partisan whoredom, under the pretext its umbrella was big enough for every individual and ideological hue.

    Well, it’s payback time and the rich should not cry or even snigger!  Perhaps if PDP had pushed a culture of political rectitude and integrity, perhaps it would have birthed a sane political climate that would have helped it to retain its members during these lean times. But alas!  As you lay your bed, you lie on it. PDP had put in place a bed of thorns.  So, let it quietly endure it without any racket.

    But after PDP, what of APC?  How does it answer the charge that, contrary to its pristine progressive  temper, it is now home to all and sundry, ideological puritanism be damned?

    Well, you could say the party would be foolish to turn its back on any Saul who claims to have become Saul, or even an unrepentant Saul, who, for whatever reasons, wants some change. Democracy, after all, is a game of numbers; and you need numbers to win elections.

    Some political historians could even say puritanical politics was what killed the Alliance for Democracy (AD) which once ruled the roost in the whole of Nigeria’s Southwest.  AD was highly discriminatory, condemning  not a few to political leprosy, by branding them members of the Abacha People’s Party (APP)!

    But where is AD today?  In the doldrums, because of its puritanical politics of exclusion, when political players have shown a clear temper to freely roll, ideology be damned!

    Still, between the PDP (extreme licentiousness) and AD (extreme puritanism), APC is free to pitch its tent.

    However it runs its show today would determine the political culture it would bequeath, which would either aid it or nail it when it comes to its own post-power winter — except, of course, it harbours PDP’s grand illusion that it would be in power forever.

    Does APC want to view the future from the past?  It should immerse itself in the present PDP dilemma. It would be a real tragedy, if it got consumed by the same PDP flaws, after so much lead time to avoid it.

  • Defection: Lagos lawmakers disagree

    Two lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly have disagreed on why six lawmakers left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) last Thursday.

    The defectors are Minority Leader Akeem Bello (Amuwo Odofin); Minority Whip Mosunmola Sangodara (Surulere II); Olusola Sokunle (Oshodi/Isolo I); Jude Idimogu (Oshodi/Isolo II); Dayo Famakinwa (Ajeromi Ifelodun II) and Oluwa Fatai (Ajeromi/Ifelodun I).

    Idimogu insisted they left the PDP due to disagreement and factionalisation but Victor Akande (Ojo 1) differed, saying a crisis was not peculiar to the party.

    The two lawmakers, who spoke in separate interviews, admitted the PDP needed to put its house in order.

    Idimogu said the crisis in the PDP was getting out of hand.

    “The vision of achieving things in the PDP is difficult.  Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has impressed me,” he said.

    Akande berated the defectors for abandoning the party that brought them into office, saying it was obvious they would abandon the APC during a crisis.