Kogi ex-speaker, 3,000 APC members join PDP in Lokoja

Former Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Alfa Imam, and thousands of his supporters, yesterday, dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Leading thousands of APC members from Lokoja Local Council to the opposition party, the former speaker said the ruling party has failed the country.
He expressed amazement with the warm reception he received from the PDP, regretting that he overstayed in the APC.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, the former lawmaker said their movement to PDP was not to seek alternative to the APC, but making a move to a party that has structure and organised leadership.

On why he stayed too long in APC, he disclosed that he thought he could change the bad leadership and right the wrongs in the party, which were to no avail.

He recalled 2014, when they campaigned against PDP but were stunned that the country sank deeper into hell under APC. Imam was optimistic that PDP would win convincingly in the comng general elections, adding that his journey to PDP is a privilege and not a right.

“I am happy to leave that toxic environment (APC) to a good environment (PDP). We will take over Lugard House,” he added. He commended the former senator for Kogi West, Tunde Ogbeha, for his leadership qualities.

Ogbeha, who received the former speaker on behalf of the PDP in Lokoja, promised that the party would take Nigeria to the Promised Land.

“Imam is welcome to PDP. I must thank him for his foresight, empathy and courage. I call on all lovers of peace and progress to come out of their hiding and join PDP. When PDP was in power, many of you have commercial vehicles to do business. Now, a bag of rice is over N45,000. We can’t continue with this wicked administration called APC.”

PDP will not take your money to the bureau de change, just the way APC has done in this country. So, it is time to change the party from state to the national level,” he stated.

Assuring the defectors that there will be no discrimination or faction, he said the party will always welcome genuine individuals who want the best for the country. He charged Kogites to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to kick out the APC administration.

The lawmaker representing Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency, Shaba Ibrahim, said the APC would regret losing the former speaker to the PDP. Former PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan, said the former Speaker was removed by Governor Yahaya Bello-led APC government for speaking the truth to power.