THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State has recorded a big catch from the All Progressives Congress (APC), with the defection of a former National Chairman of the Buhari/Osinbajo Youth Movement (BOYM) and Delta State Chairman of the Nigeria Youth Organisation (NYO), Engr. Kelvin Okolie.
The grassroots politician called it quit to APC at the weekend in his ward 9, Ukwu-Nzu, Aniocha North Local Governnent Area, along with his teeming supporters, blasting the party for lacking structure and foundation in Delta.
Engr. Okolie described APC as a strange bed fellow, stressing that the time he spent with the party was wasted and he was happy to be back to his political family, PDP, where he truly belonged.
He marvelled at the infrastructural development of his community, Ukwu-Nzu, courtesy of the Okowa administration, observing that the community, which was a no go area during the rains due to the serious impact of erosion, could now be accessed all year round.
The former APC chieftain thanked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for giving purposeful leadership and direction to the Peoples Democratic Party in the state and urged those still hobnobbing with the APC in Delta with the hope of being politically relevant to join him in PDP.
The said Delta was a stronghold of PDP, where no other party could pose a threat, acknowledging that Governor Okowa had done a lot to impact positively on the lives of the people, using the party’s platform, and commended the decampees for coming on board when it mattered most.
Engr. Okolie promised that he and his supporters would respect party supremacy and contribute to the growth of the PDP at the ward, local government area and state levels.
Ward 9 Chairman of the party, Mr. Henry Uwamechine, who presented Engr. Okolie and his supporters to the Aniocha North LGA Chairman of the party, thanked them for realizing their political mistake and summoning the courage to return to the PDP family, “where the umbrella is large enough to accommodate them.”
The LGA party Chairman, Dr. Charles Ochei, assured the decampees that PDP would remain accommodating to both old and new members and urged them to support the State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, to finish strong and better.
Party leaders who spoke at the occasion were a former Commissioner for Lands in the state, Sir Dan Okenyi; the LGA Vice Chairman of PDP, Chief Ayo Mormah; Executive Assistant to the Governor on Local Government Affairs, Hon. Jaunty Okwudi; Chairman, Delta State Waste Management Board, Hon Bazim Chinye; SSA to the Governor on Health Monitoring, Dr. Michael Nwoko and a leader in the ward, Engr. Emmanuel Eboh.
