The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State have lost about 7000 members, including two aides of current Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
The decampees are said to be mainly from Oleh community and its environs in Isoko South local government area of the state. More so, Mr Lucky Arumare, Special Assistant to the Governor on Youths and Community Development, Mrs. Uyoyou Edhekpo, Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Mobilization also defected to the APC.
According to them, they made up their mind to dump the PDP on allegationa of high handedness, and its continued imposition of candidates by the leadership of the party, alleging that the party portends “evil with fake ideologies”.
The decampees formally announced their exit from the PDP at the Oleh primary school ground on Thursday evening.
Receiving the defectors, the state chairman of the APC, Prophet Jones Erue boasted that Governor Okowa will be shown the way out during the 2019 general election, alleging that there has been decay in infrastructure, and under development in the state in the past three years.
According to him, “Governor Okowa is serious apology to Delta State. He will be shown the way out from Government House by Delta people through their votes. The people have concluded to enthrone an APC government come 2019 in Delta State. PDP has nothing to offer to the people of Delta State”.
Arumare, former aide to Governor Okowa, who spoke to journalists on behalf of the others, alleged that PDP operates as a “cult group”, adding that members who are not part of the “cult group” were not recognized in the scheme of things.
He said, “We have dumped PDP. We will not go back to the party that operates like a cult group. We were tired and moved into light where we can pursue our political career. We will shock the party come 2019 with our votes. APC has transparent ideologies we will operate with”.
However, sources close to former two-time governor, Chief James Ibori, has made up his mind to dump the PDP for APC in the nearest future, as the source who did not want his name mentioned in the print, quoted Ibori as saying: “PDP sent me to jail, APC released me. We are taking steps very soon”.
