Over 2000 PDP, SDP members defects to APC in Ajaokuta




Ahead of November 16 governorship election in Kogi state,over 2000 supporters  of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and their leaders in Ajaokuta local government area of the state have defected to the ruling party- the All Progressives Congress.

Receiving the decampees Thursday into the fold of the APC in Ajaokuta, the administrator of the council, Prince Mustapha Aka’aba, assured the new members of fair treatment, saying there will be no discrimination against any member in terms of sharing of the dividend of democracy.

“I want to assure you, that the APC as a party is one family and has always treated the old and the new members fairly and equally. We are going to integrate all of you into our fold and whatever benefit that come will be enjoy by all members of the party.

“I am optimistic  that with the calibres of politicians that have join us now, our strength has increased tremendously and there is no doubt that Ajaokuta LGA will in the coming election deliver 100 percent votes to the All Progressives Congress,” he assured.

Hon Siraj Suleiman, who spoke on behalf of the defected leaders APC, said their decision to dump PDP was due to the high rate of impunity and lack of reward that cannot be resolved by the national body of the party.

He added that lack of party cohesion, lack of direction on the part of the leadership of their former parties has led to the problems the parties are currently en meshed in. They said the problems became very pronounced after the recent primary election for the selection of their governorship candidates.

Suleiman said the confusion and bickering among PDP members and its aggrieved aspirants, especially the leaders in Ajaokuta local government were the major reason many have chosen to decamp.

He said the decampees have seen a better future in the ruling APC and therefore resolved to abandon the sinking PDP to its fate and relocate to a party – APC- that was established by guided principle.

“It is very cleared that the PDP is already bedeviled with crises after the recent primary election of the party. It is obvious that many people are willing to abandon the party.

“The governor gave out political appointment to all the local government and he did not reserve any juicy position for his kinsmen. This is the type of a leader Kogi state deserve and we have collapsed our structure into APC ahead of November 16 governorship election”

Earlier, the Ajaokuta local government APC chairman Hon Hussain Balogun, said that the essence of the occasion was to rejoice with all members and supporters of the party based on the success of the APC primary election that gave ticket to Governor Bello to re-contest.

Some of the leaders of the PDP, who have collapsed  their political structures into the APC’s in Ajaokuta LGA includes a former commissioner for commerce and industry, Engr Ogunah, former House of Representatives aspirant Hon Siraj Suleiman, Hon Umar O. Sadiq (Teco) and Hon Musa O. Omuya.

Others are, Prince Halilu Musa Achuja, Prince Gambo Habib and a former woman leader of the PDP, Mrs Ajinetu Musa, among others.


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