Over 1000 members of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Kabba-Bunu local government area of Kogi state have dumped their party to join All Progressive Congress (APC)ahead of November 16 Governorship election.
Receiving the decampees at Oke-Bukun community on Saturday at a rally organised by the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Matthew Kolawole, he said the defection of members of the PDP and their leaders in the local government was a clear indication that the members of the opposition have identified with the programme and policies of APC-led government in Kogi state.
Addressing the new members, the Speaker assured them that there would be no discrimination between the new and the old members in the area in the area of benefits and sharing of dividend of democracy in the district.
“This defection has shown that no opposition parties in Kogi state and APC is strong and virile.
“PDP is no longer strong in Kogi west, most of the known political bigwigs in the party have left to join APC. The coming of Nathaniel Taiwo a former council chairman and a one time member of the assembly is a good omen to Kogi APC and we are assure of delivering Kabba-Bunu to APC come November 16,” he said.
Kolawole further stated that the Okun people in Kogi west didn’t have reason not to vote for Governor Yahaya Bello in the next general election, saying that the governor has done a lot in terms of projects and appointments to the zone that warrant his return back to Lugard House to consolidate on his numerous achievements.
The Director General, Bello/Onoja campaign organization, Senator Smart Adeyemi, while handing over APC membership cards to Nathaniel Taiwo and other decampees said the rally to receive the new members was a manifestation of what would happen in November governorship election in Kogi state.
He described APC as a formidable party in Kogi state and the country at large, saying people in the opposition parties are joining the party because of its policies that put the interest of the masses over and above any personal interest.
The two-term Senator said the Omi dam project that was abandoned for 37 years, governor Bello saw reason to inject life into the project. He said it was enough reason for Okun people to rally round and support the sitting governor to return and complete what he has started.
“What Governor Bello is doing in Kogi state is a replica of what President Buhari is doing at the national level.
“Apart from governor Bello, I did not see any governor in the state that built on the foundation laid by former governor Abubakar Audu . Others that came only succeeded in polarising the people and strengthened ethnic division where an Ebira man see an Okun person as enemy, where an Okun person see an Igala person as an oppressor.
“Governor Bello put an end to tribal sentiment and weave every ethnic group together as one and he demonstrated that via the numerous political appointment he made. Good governance is not about tribe , governor Bello has unified us and we will continue to follow and support him.”
Speaking, the leader of the decampees Nathaniel Taiwo disclosed that over 1000 PDP members in Okebukun and Oduakpe dumped their party for APC.
He said the high rate of impunity and lack of reward for loyalty made many members of PDP to abandoned the party.
