There were mass defections to the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State when chieftains of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) defected and returned to the party.
Some of those who returned to the party were a former Caretaker Chairman of All Progressives’ Congress, Hon Igo Aguma and the pioneer Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Dr Davies Ibiamu Ikanya.
A total of fourteen APC members mostly chieftains of the party defected and returned to the party while one was of the Green Party of Nigeria.
At a reception organized for them over the weekend, the Chairman of the party in the state, Amb. Desmond Akawor, in his remarks said that the defections meant that the party no longer existed in the state saying that the returnees came back because they saw the development strides of the governor of the state.
Other returnees were Hon Isobo Jack, who was former Commissioner for Urban Development, former Council Chairman as well as Sole Administrator of the State’s Waste Management Agency as well as Hon Alamiese Yellowe, Hon Benibo Anabraba and Chief Nnamdi Ogbogbo.
The returnees were presented by their local party chairmen to the governor and the party and received into the party by the party’s chairman who also presented them the logo.
Other returnees also include Hon Alphine Whyte, Andy Nweye, Larrry Nwonodi and Chief Hon Wisdom Wakama.
The defectors gave reason why they came back to the party.
The pioneer chairman of All Progressives’ Congress, Chief Dr Ibiamu Ikanya, said that he came back with his followers from about seventeen local government areas of the state saying that he was mistaken about the party.
He said: “I was wrong about APC. Let me take responsibility for all the problems that have been enumerated by various speakers because I was the one that thought that APC was going to give us better life, better security, better employment (and) our children were going to enjoy (and) we were going to get better projects (but I was wrong)”.
He said that he was watching the development strides of the governor and came to a crossroad and decided to come back to the party and declared his membership for the party.
For his part, the former caretaker chairman of the party and former member of House of Representatives, Hon Igo Aguma, alleged that there was self-centredness in his former party and accused a former governor of the state and leader of the party, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi of financial impropriety.
He commended the governor of the state, Chief Nyesom Wike, for carrying out infrastructural projects with financial prudence.
Hon Aguma said that APC was dead in the state saying they were brainwashed to join the party.
Another returnee, Hon Isobo Jack, described the day as a new dawn for those who returned to the party saying that the day was a great day for him and his followers.
He said his political benefits came when he was member of the People’s Democratic Party saying that he became chairman, sole administrator and commissioner on the party’s platform and commended the governor for performing “marvellously well”.
All the other returnees also spoke.
A former Deputy Mayor of Port-Harcourt City Local Government, Hon Alphine Whyte, said that he came back because he saw the commitment by the governor to develop the state saying he came with his executives of the Green Party to strengthen what the governor was doing.
It was one of the greatest events concerning defections to People’s Democratic Party in the state.
Making his remarks, the governor of the state, Chief Nyesom Wike, said those who defected to the party were people of great calibre.
He said that he carried out projects in every part of the state and assured that the party would continue to win elections in the state.
He also accused his predecessor of having sold state property to enrich himself.
Governor Wike said: “Dr Odili built three gas turbines. Amaechi sold it for $308m to his business partner Sahara Energy. Dr Odili built gas turbine for us to have electricity. Amaechi went and sold it to Sahara Energy. You know, he was indicted by the Judicial Panel of Inquiry. He went to High Court, he lost. He went to Court of Appeal, he lost. Now he has gone to Supreme Court. He should simply tell people the truth”.
The governor said that APC was no longer existing in the state, saying he had done projects in every part of the state.
