By Johnson Ebigide
A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and his supporters in Delta State have defected to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
He is Mr. Iwemdi Nwaham, Publicity Secretary of a faction of the APC in the state.
Speaking to newsmen after dumping the APC with over 300 supporters at Umunede in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, Nwaham stated that the internal structure of the APC in the state had been destroyed, causing disaffection among members and unfortunate irresponsive administration of the party.
He disclosed that he had well over 1000 followers in the party who, he said, had been disgruntled with the internal administion of the party, affirming that the party was close to the precipices of self destruction in the state owing to administrative high-handedness.
Nwaham stated that he decided to pitch tent with the PDP in the state because of its solid structure, built on internal conflict resolution mechanism, adding that Governor Ifeanyi OKowa of Delta State and Vice Presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 Presidential Election in Nigeria was an exemplar of the many distinguished personalities in the party.
The decamped APC chieftain called for unity of purpose among the people of Umunede to ensure the PDP won the General Elections in 2023.
Receiving the decamped APC members, the Chairman of the PDP, Ward 11, in the locality, Chief Eluehike Celestine Chuks, thanked Nwaham and his followers for retreating their steps at the right time and joining the PDP, adding that the umbrella of the party was wide enough to accommodate them, even as he enjoined them to work through the grassroot units to the central level of the party.
Also speaking, the member representing Ika North East Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Honourable Tony Elekeokwuri, expressed joy over the development, adding that Nwaham and his supporters could be likened to the prodigal son in the Bible, noting however that it was a thing of joy that they had decided to return to the right place to further consolidate on the development of not only Umunede, but the entire state and Nigeria.
He said that the noticeable infrastructural milestones and human capital development index of the PDP administration in the state were enough for every Deltan to come over to the PDP in joining hands with the state governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi OKowa, to finish strong and move to the next level as the Vice President of Nigeria.
Several PDP faithful, groups, leaders of thought and youths graced the colourful event.