Not less than 240 faithful of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC in the Andoni Local Government chapter have defected to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party PDP, last Tuesday during the party’s flag off campaign in Ataba wards 10 and 11.
Leading the defectors to formally declare for the PDP at the party’s ward campaign at wards 10 and 11, the organizing secretary of APC in the LGA, Mr. Blessing Tiko and Hon. Simon Ayauwu had pledge their unreserved support and loyalty to the PDP, saying that there is no place like one’s home, promising to serve the party better.
According to Blessing Tiko who spoke to The Newswriter political correspondent, they are no longer comfortable with the activities, and programmes of the APC, hence their resolve to return back to their original base saying there was no atom of change as postulated by the party. The defectors maintained that they prefer the PDP to APC blaming the caretaker chairman Deacon. Emmanuel Ikwut of maltreating them without recourse and respect.
Welcoming the defectors, the local government chairman of PDP Chinedu Ogbologugo has promised to accord all equal treatment, saying that the doors of the party are wide open for others and thank them for taking the right decision.
Meanwhile, the senatorial candidate of the PDP for Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Olaka Nwogu has solicited for support and votes from the Andoni people promising never to forget the people if elected into office.
He however, acknowledged the people as too valuable in the politics of Nigeria, Rivers as well as the senatorial district noting that their votes are votes for victory.
The senate hopeful has therefore throw his weight behind the party in the area while supporting the campaign with a Hundred Thousand Naira each and a cow each for the respective eleven (11) wards.
In a similar development, the House of Representatives candidate, Awaji-Inombek Abiante has unveiled to the people of Ataba his programmes and promised to always reach out while acknowledging Ataba as his home and noted that the Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Ataba was his Alma-Mater.
Futhermore the PDP candidate for the State House of Assembly and incumbent member in the Assembly, Hon. Ikunyi-Owaji Ibani an indigene of Ataba has said he was not in Ataba to campaign but to inform his people of his acceptance and heed the call to return back to the Assembly as requested.
Ibani while calling on the people to vote for the PDP stated that all projects and those on-going in the community are awarded by PDP government.
According to him, the internal roads, state road linking Ataba through Kaa as powered by the NDDC are all the projects of PDP and called on the people to vote for PDP to further enhance transformation noting that APC has not contested or won any election.
It is on record that Ibani has delivered the dividends of democracy to Andoni and Ataba in particular as the Anthony Ukpo road; six model classroom blocks for the secondary school and others were embarked upon by the Assembly candidate.
Earlier, the director general of the PDP for 2015 general election in the area, and former member of the House of Assembly, Hon. Gogo Oboya Offiaja has called on the mammoth crowd at Ataba to consider a vote for PDP as a vote for total transformation of the area, urging them to disregard the APC as they have not won any election prior to 2015.
Offiaja made the call while delivery his welcome address at Ataba having led the campaign train on a courtesy call to the palaces of HRH, Timothy Uruk XVI Okaan Ama of Ataba and HRH Benson M. Egwenre, the clan head of Ataba.
Those on the campaign train included the state deputy chairman of the PDP and son of the soil, Hon. Monwon O. Etete, LGA Party chairman, Chinedu Ogbologugo, Chief Allen Jonah Abbi (JP), Chief Gad Harry Ekprikpo, Chief Hon. Lucky Ayauwu, Director General of New Rivers Vision for Anodni, Hon. Paul Ayagwung and other top political dignitaries from Andoni. ###
