The Minister of Transportation, and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Rotimi Amaechi, has suffered a political setback, as leaders and supporters of the APC, defected in mass to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State.
The latest of this development was in Ubima community, in Ikwerre Local Government Area, the home town of Amaechi, where hundreds of APC members, including their leaders, and his close allies, dumped the party for the PDP.
Reacting to the incident on Sunday, September 18, the PDP Chairman in the State, Felix Obuah said it was not a surprise that the APC suffered such fate.
He said: “Amaechi, his party, and its Abuja based leaders, do not have the structure, grassroots support, as well as genuine commitment, and purposeful programmes, to carter for the needs of the people, hence the defection.He added: “The massive defection was an action taken in demonstration of their disappointment and frustration, over the failure of the APC, to provide a better leadership alternative”.
Obuah, while welcoming the new members from the APC to the PDP, congratulated them on their realisation, and bold step taken in spite of the intimidation and inducement by Amaechi, and other unpopular leaders of the APC, who are running from pillar to post in Abuja, begging to be appointed, or imposed on the people, through fraudulent elections in the State.
He reiterated, that the PDP umbrella was large enough to accommodate both regular and returning members of the party.
He assured all of equal opportunity and treatment, as a responsible and well-meaning party founded on equity, justice, and fair play.
Obuah, further explained that with the current trend of defections in the State, Amaechi, would be left with the carcass of the party, while appealing to the remnants to make hay while the sun shines, so as to be part of the various development programmes and initiatives of the Governor Nyesom Wike-led government in the State.
“I want to encourage Amaechi and his allies, to stomach their pride, and stop their uncovered calumnious plots against the PDP government in the State, admit their failure and defeat, and to take steps in joining the performing Governor Wike, in giving the people of the State a new lease of life,” he said.
The PDP, he added, “was willing to forgive and re-admit any genuinely repentant APC leader and members, who are ready to help build a better Rivers State.”
He assured that in the coming days, more of the leftover APC members would join the PDP fold in the State.
