Edith CHUKU
For the second time, the factional chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC, Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, will be receiving the speaker, Martins Amaewhule and 15 members of the State House of Assembly into the APC.
This is following the declaration of their defection from the People’s Democratic Party PDP, to the APC, over alleged division in the PDP.
After a plenary on Friday where the announcement was made, Okocha who was full of smiles had a handshake with the speaker and other defectors.
The APC factional chairman who attended the plenary was also seen in a photograph with the decampees.
Speaking during the session, Amaewhule while announcing their decision to defect, stated that he had formally notified his PDP ward chairman that he had already joined the APC.
His words; “Distinguished colleagues, very happily, let me announce to honourable members that your Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, has decided and has indeed written to my ward chairman of my decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“Distinguished colleagues, APC is my new party. I will do all that is needed to ensure that the party card of the All Progressives Congress is issued to me in no time.
“But as I speak today, I am a member of the All Progressives Congress, and I’m happy to be a member of the APC so that we can join forces with Mr. President.”
Amaewhule who recently passed a vote of confidence on the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to run for a second term, noted that “Mr President is doing so much for this country. President Bola Tinubu means well for Nigeria. He’s tackling the issues of security. The President has shown love to Rivers State.
“Mr President is helping Rivers people to be part of the governance of this country. So I’m delighted to be part of the All Progressives Congress so that we can support Mr. President right inside the APC. But the major reason for leaving the PDP is because of the division in the party.”
Members who dumped the PDP were the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol (Gokana), Major Jack (Akuku-Toru), Linda Stewart (Okrika), Franklin Nwabochi (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni), Azeru Opara (Port Harcourt 3), Smart Adoki (Port Harcourt 2), Enemi George (Asari-Toru 2), and Solomon Wami (Port Harcourt 1).
Others were Igwe Aforji (Eleme), Tekena Wellington (Asari-Toru 1), Looloo Opuende (Akuku-Toru 2), Peter Abbey (Degema), Arnold Dennis (Ogu/Bolo), Chimezie Nwankwo (Etche), and Ofiks Kabang (Andoni).
