APC chieftain says defection of Ndokwa East executives in Delta to PDP not a loss
The defection of executives of All Progressives Party (APC) in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will not affect APC’s chances at the coming elections.
The assurance was given in Abuja on Sunday by Chief Tony Ndanenu, a chieftain of the APC in Delta when he spoke with Newsmen
Ndanenu who is the APC candidate for Ndokwa East seat in the Delta House of Assembly said the executives that defected to the PDP had earlier been suspended for anti-party activities in the APC.
One of the defectors, Mr Lucky Dikadi, is Legislative Aide to the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ovie Omo-agege, and also the Ndokwa East Local Government Area Deputy Co-ordinator of the APC
Ndanenu said the defectors were suspended for holding secret meetings with the PDP, which, he added, lured them with money and promises of political appointments.
Dikadi dismissed the claim, however, and said the executives left the APC because they were not being carried along in party activities.
He added that the executives were not receiving any benefits from party.
Dikadi also expressed dissatisfaction with the way the APC was being managed in the state and particularly in Ndokwa East.
“We are tired of too many promises and no action, and also no committee to resolve all pending issues,’’ he said.
Another defector, Mr Jude Ezimadu, who was party secretary in the local government area, refuted Ndanenu’s allegation that the PDP gave them large sums of money and offered them political appointments.
“It is an allegation. Ndanenu should substantiate it; we genuinely left APC,’’ he told Newsmen.
Ndanenu had earlier told Newsmen that the APC had credible information that some members in Ugheli South Local Government Area were also planning to defect.
He assured that notwithstanding the defection by suspended executives of the APC to the PDP, and contrary to speculations, the APC in Ndokwa East remained a united family.
He called on APC members and supporters in Delta to keep faith with the party, saying that a better Delta would be assured under an APC-led government at all levels.
He said party members should not in any way be deterred, but to continue to work round-the-clock to ensure the party’s victory at the coming elections.
He said Chief Kris Oputa had been appointed as the new Ndokwa East Chairman of the APC to replace the suspended and now in PDP Augustine Ogbolu-led executives.
Ndanenu added that Oputa was appointed because the party’s leadership trusted in his ability to galvanize votes and lead it to victory at the general elections.
