Political Stakeholders in Abia state, on Wednesday, reacted to the defection of 15 All Progressives Congress, APC, members in the Senate to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and another party.
DAILY POST had reported that about 15 senators of the ruling APC defected to the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP). The defectors cited crisis and factions within the party as the reasons for their defection, saying they cannot continue to pursue their political careers under the ruling party.
Similarly, a total of 37 members of the House of Representatives announced their official defection from the All Progressives Congress to the Peoples Democratic Party and African Democratic Party(ADC).
Speaking with DAILY POST on Wednesday, Ugonna Irokansi, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, described the defection of the lawmakers as a good omen to the party now that the nation approaches 2019 general elections.
Irokansi said that the APC lawmaker’s cross-carpet to PDP will not affect the fortunes of the party in the 2019 general election.
He said, “The APC lawmaker’s defection to the PDP is not a big blow to our party,APC. You see, politics is a game of interest.
“Their defection to PDP is a welcome development. Though, we never wanted them to leave. But it will not affect the fortunes of APC in the coming 2019 general election.
“They have the constitutional right to move to any political party of their choice.
But a PDP chieftain, Barrister Suleiman Ukandu, while speaking to DAILY POST, described the defection to the PDP as a welcome development.
He said,”Their defection was long overdue for those APC members that decamped to the right party, having being frustrated and persecuted by the party they all laboured for, to bring in power.
“So, it is a welcome development. And our party, PDP, is on the way to entrench good governance by chasing away the incompetent APC President, Muhammadu Buhari”.
Also reacting, a former Abia state Representative at the Federal Revenue Allocation, Mobilization and Fiscal Commission and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Chris Adighije, expressed worry over the development.
He harped on the need for every member of APC to work harder to ensure the party retains power come 2019,
Adighije, expressed optimisms that President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC will emerge victorious in the coming elections.
According to him,”We have been expecting it, it’s politics. There is work in progress. I’m sad over the development.
“But that is not the end of APC. Every APC member has to deliver his own constituency.
” Vividly, I am not here to see some people dropped on the roadside. APC need to learn their lesson from that, and work harder to ensure it retains power.”
Hon. Ebere Clinton, member representing Aba South constituency in Abia House of Assembly and a PDP stalwart, hailed the cross-carpeting of APC lawmakers to the opposition party.
“He said,” APC senators joining PDP is God’s making. I know, come 2019, God will descend in Nigeria and take absolute control..
“There is more hope for Nigerians. PDP is too big to accommodate everybody. APC government has failed to bring the needed change in the country.
‘I must really commend the APC senators and Reps members that joined our great, party (PDP)”.
“I am assuring Nigerians that PDP is out to take over governance from the incompetent APC federal government come 2019”.
“We will revive our economy which the Buhari government has bastardized”.
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