The All Progressives Congress (APC) has suffered from another setback as about 250 of its prominent members in Olla Ward, Omala Local Government Area, last week defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
During a colourful defection ceremony in Olla, a veteran journalist and former Vice Chairman of the defunct Congress of Progressive Change, Alhaji Abuh Onaji, said he resolved to leave the APC because ‘’the PDP administration in Kogi State has embarked on some projects in Olla despite the fact that the town remained in opposition.’’
He continued: ‘’I discovered that the PDP has been very fair to Olla. I have no malice against the APC but I believe I should leave and belong to where I should be. As a journalist and politician, I am satisfied with what the PDP is doing in the state.’’
The veteran journalist lauded the electricity project embarked upon in Olla by Governor Idris Wada’s administration.
Among those who defected are the former CPC Chairman for Omala LGA, Suleiman Usman and the APC Chairman for Olla Ward, Abdul Maha.
Receiving the defectors, the State Chairman of PDP, Hon Hassan Salawu, who was represented by the Party’s Vice Chairman for Kogi East, Hon Seidu Odoma, noted that those who dumped their former party had taken the right decision and assured that the PDP would never renege on its avowed transformation agenda.
Former State Head of Service, Chief Yahaya Agbenyo, noted that with the defection the PDP would continue to wax stronger in Omala LGA.
The State governor who was represented by the member representing Omala Constituency at the State House of Assembly, Hon Aliyu Akuh, described PDP as a strong and reliable party.
He observed that going by the defection, there is no opposition in Olla Ward, reiterating that Omala LGA had remained with the PDP right from its formative year in 1998 and therefore would sustain that loyalty.
He said apart from the Olla electrification project, ‘’Olla-Emekutu road which is in the budget would be constructed.’’
In his speech, a staunch member of the PDP and an indigene of Olla, Alhaji Ibn Mustapha described the party as people-oriented adding that, ‘’it is because of the light we saw in it that we urged the defectors to join the party.’’
The Director-General, Government House Protocol, Lokoja, Alhaji Suleiman Ibrahim, described the event as awesome.
According to him, ‘’one thing with Olla people is that if you identify with them, they would reciprocate. Captain Idris Wada has done so by embarking on about N60 million electricity project in Olla. The people said that gesture is wonderful and that the governor can be trusted. That is why stakeholders in Olla decided to rally round him and PDP.
Culled from The Graphic Newspaper
