By ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA
Another political tragedy again befell the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Delta State as one of it’s heavyweights, former State Publicity Secretary, Hon. Iwemdi Nwaham led his followers to officially dumped the APC for the State ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ika North East Local Government Area yesterday.
An APC source confided in SPADE NG.COM that the move may have marked the beginning of the eradication of APC in Ika land.
Nwaham and other defectors were formally received into the PDP by the Member representing Ika North East State Constituency in the State House of Assembly (DTHA), Hon. Anthony Elekeokwuri and the Chairman of PDP Ward 11, Chief Eluehike Celestine Chuks, in a carnival like reception held in honour of the defectors at Tony Elekeokwuri’s country home in Ekwuoma.
Addressing party faithful which includes Wards and Units executives of the area, Hon. Elekeokwuri commended the defectors for their courage and patriotism at leaving the APC which he described as a sinking ship to join the PDP in salvaging Umunede and Nigeria at large.
The Lawmaker said he was elated to receive Iwemdi Nwaham into the PDP family because Nwaham was somebody he (Tony Elekeokwuri) grew up knowing very well and has so much respect for. So being in different parties was not healthy for the Umunede Ward 11.
Adding, he said “looking at what is going on in the State and what Governor Ifeanyi Okowa hadl done in the State, my brother Iwemdi Nwaham felt that joining the PDP train will benefit his Umunede people more than being in the opposition.
“We are going to further the course of PDP in our Ward 11 because Governor Okowa is going to be the next Vice President of this country”.
Elekeokwuri noted that the PDP has done well in all ramifications in the State so all political parties were moving into PDP because of the good things Governor Okowa was doing.
“All interests shall be recognized and positively engaged in the amalgamation of various political ideologies and area development”. He added
Responding to questions from journalists on reasons he dumped his beloved APC with his numerous supporters, Iwemdi Nwaham disclosed that the internal structure of the APC in the State was damaged when it was hijacked from Chief Otega Emerho, which caused disaffection among members and the present unfortunate irresponsive administration of the Deputy President of the Senates Ovie Omo-Agege own APC.
The former Delta State APC image maker who called for unity of purpose among the people of Umunede to ensure Umunede double their efforts for the PDP in the General Elections in 2023, said he had been disgruntled with the internal administration of APC, that the party was close to self destruction in Delta State owing to administrative high-handedness of the Ovie Omo-Agege faction.
“Umunede will no longer share it votes. We will now be voting with one voice for only one political party the, PDP”. He noted.
According to Nwaham, “our group decided to pitch tent with the PDP in the State because of its solid structure, built on internal conflict resolution mechanism, and Governor Ifeanyi OKowa, the Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP in the next General Elections is an exemplar of the many distinguished personalities in the party.
While saying he stayed this late to dump the APC because he was thinking there could be a resolved, Nwaham called on other APC members in the State to join the PDP.
On whether he feels threatened by the growing influx of defectors from other parties to the PDP, Nwaham said he sees the defection as a positive step towards having a united front to fight and revive the country from the grip and bondage of cabals.