Over 1000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kabba-Bunu local government area of Kogi state have dumped their party.
They opted to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the November 16 governorship election.
Receiving the defectors at Oke-Bukun community Saturday at a rally, the speaker of the state Assembly, Matthew Kolawole, said the defection of members of the PDP and their leaders in the local government was a clear indication that members of the opposition identified with the programme and policies of the APC-led government in Kogi state.
The speaker assured them that there will be no discrimination against them in the area of sharing dividends of democracy.
“This defection has shown that no opposition party 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 joined APC. The coming of Nathaniel Taiwo, a former council chairman and a one time member of the assembly is a good omen and we are sure of delivering Kabba-Bunu to APC come November 16,” he said.
Speaking further, Kolawole stated that the Okun people in Kogi West do not have reason not to vote for Governor Yahaya Bello in the next general election.
The Director General, Bello/Onoja campaign organisation, Senator Smart Adeyemi, while handing over APC membership cards to Taiwo and other decampees said the rally to receive the new members was a manifestation of what will happen in November governorship election.
He described APC as a formidable party in Kogi state and the country at large, adding that people in the opposition parties joined the party because of its policies that put the interest of the masses over and above any personal interest.
The two term senator pointed out that the Omi dam project was abandoned for 37 years and today, Governor Bello has injected life into the project. He said that was enough reason for Okun people to rally round and support Governor Bello to return as governor of Kogi state.
“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, don’t 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 sees an Okun person as enemy and an Okun person see an Igala person as an oppressor.
“Governor Bello put an end to tribal sentiment and weaved every ethnic group together as one and he demonstrated that via the numerous political appointments he made. Good governance is not about tribe, Governor Bello has unified us and we will continue to follow and support him.
