Kogi PDP bigwigs decamp to APC

IT was harvest time for APC Saturday in Kogi State when some influential and founding members of the PDP dumped the party for their fold in Anyigba, in a grand rally.

 Notable among the decamps  were former governorship aspirant, AVM Salihu Atawodi, erstwhile Senator Nicholas Ugbane, one-time state chairman of the party and Senator Dangana Ocheja. There were  also former Accountant General of the state and senatorial Aspirant, Elder Ubolo Itodo Okpanachi, ex-chairman of the state’s Teaching Service Commission, Malam Sani Ogu, and former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Samson Ihiabe.

The coordinator of the General Muhammodu Buhari Campaign Organization, Barr. James Ocholi, said the rally in Kogi East was a resounding success.

“We had an unprecedented turn-out of decampees from about nine local government areas of the Kogi East. Senator Nicholas Yahaya Ugbane from Dekina Local Government, Senator Dangana Ocheja from Idah, AVM Salihu Atawodi from Igalamela, Elder Ubolo Okpanachi from Ofu also decamped, Honourable Samson Ihiabe alias Positive from Dekina and Honourable Ukwenya from Itobe also joined the fray.

He said notable Igala sons and daughters came out massively from Dekina, the home of the incumbent governor.

 “This event marked the turning point of a defeat of the PDP in the next election. This has swept over Kogi East which has been the predominant area where PDP usually have their block votes. The wind of change is blowing and Igala land has joined the wind.”

The venue of the occasion which was already filled to capacity, became more aesthetic as the flamboyant former governor of the state Prince Abubakar Audu drove in along with a long convoy.

Addressing the crowd, former governor and chieftain of the party, Prince Audu, said the defection of the PDP gladiators was a testament to the end of the ruling party’s reign in the state and boost for the success of APC in the coming general elections at both the state and the country at large.