The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue State, at the weekend, suffered yet another major setback when over 2,000 of its members in Otukpo local government area bid farewell to the party and declared for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Our correspondent reports that the decamping is coming less than two weeks after a large chunk of its members led by the National Commandant of the Nigeria Peace Corps, Amb. Dickson Ako left the party.
A press statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the state Deputy Governor, Ede Ogaba Ede, stated that the event took place at Otukpo-Icho, home of the state Deputy Governor, Benson Abounu on Saturday, 15th December 2018.
The decampees were received by the deputy governor and other top party and government officials.
The statement said the defectors cut across the 13 wards of the LGA and were led by tested grassroots politicians.
Speaking individually at the event, leaders of the 20 different APC groups that called it quits with the party, said they decided to join their leader, the deputy governor in the PDP, because the party offers better prospects for the development of Benue State.
They said the Gov. Samuel Ortom administration has exhibited unusual straightforwardness and passion for community development hence their decision to stick with him.
Receiving the new members, Abounu thanked them for joining him in the PDP to continue with the work of rebuilding and bringing development to the people at the grassroots.
He noted that he had never taken their support for granted and thanked them for always identifying with him.
The deputy governor, who announced the construction of a classroom block at the Okete Community Secondary School, called on the people to work hard and mobilise support for the election of all the PDP candidates, beginning with Atiku Abubakar on Saturday, February 16th 2019.
Abounu, who stated that he had never participated in politics without attracting development projects to his people, told the cheering crowd that the candidates being paraded by the APC have no record of achievements or programmes for the people.
He said any vote for the APC was a wasted effort as both Atiku Abubakar and Gov. Samuel Ortom will win their elections, adding that the PDP will win clearly in Benue South Senatorial district and other parts of the state.
Earlier, the Otukpo PDP chairman, Abel Otobi, and the State women leader, Abeje Egwa had assured them of equal treatment in the party and urged them to work with the same vigour that they worked while in the APC to ensure total and comprehensive victory for the PDP.
