Defection Tsunami Hits PDP Bayelsa State Nembe Constituency III . . . My Developmental Orientation Is My Power – Hon Sampson
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by Oyagiri Chime-emeleThe All Progressives Congress (APC) Bayelsa State chapter may have heaved a sigh of relief as a political tsunami hit the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as hundreds of its members denounced membership.
The defection which took place at the APC state secretariat, Yenagoa, Tuesday, September 6th, witnessed the defectors embracing the symbol – broom, of their new party.
Receiving the defectors on behalf of the National Chairman of the party and the state Leader, the state chairman, Dr. Dennis Otiotio, assured the new entrants of all benefits and immunity that covers members of the party.
Dr. Otiotio charged them to be committed and loyal to the party’s leadership, adding that they would not regret their crossing over to the APC.
He thanked the member representing Nembe Constituency III in the state House of Assembly, Hon Chief Douglas Sampson for his developmental strides that had attracted the new members and enjoined him to do more.
Earlier, the leader of the defecting group, Engr. Richard Kula of Ward 11 in Nembe Local Government Area, hinted that the cardinal reason for their defection was the unprecedented developmental strides of the honourable representing them.
Engr. Kula, who assured the party leadership of their unalloyed loyalty, added that the strength and mobilization previously exhibited in their former sojourn would be increased.
He appealed against discrimination, segregation and not being carried along in the scheme of things in the party.
Engr. said; “Formerly, we were members of the PDP. We decided to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), reasons being that we were not considered in anything while in PDP and the developmental strides of our honourable made us to conclude that this side (APC) will be better than the other side.
“Our honourable has executed projects like; dual road, 500m/6m road, boreholes, primary school building, solar lights and another (about to take off). The community has not had it this good in terms of dividends of democracy. So, unprecedented that we felt it will be good to join him to give him more support and encouragement.
“We are going to deliver him seamlessly in his second tenure bid. We are all from one compound and it has been a no go area for him before now. But now, with our joining him as the largest compound and the other two compounds are already in his kit, victory is assured.
In his speech, Hon Chief Sampson , Member representing Nembe Constituency III, thanked the state party leadership for making out time to receive his people into the progressives fold.
The lawmaker assured them of more developmental projects, stating that everyone amongst them will get what is due him as a party member.
“We are here to receive some persons from my constituency, especially my Ward coming from the PDP that after seeing the good work i am performing in my area have decided to join the APC.
“This particular people defecting today are the ones that have been giving me challenge in my constituency. We were all in PDP but refused to decamp to APC with me. They were still in PDP disturbing me. It was a full compound, today, am so happy and lucky that the whole compound is with me now.
“We have more than five thousand votes in the community, but this people made it so difficult to get an easy win. Happy that those in PDP now are not up to twenty persons. With this, I can go and sleep because it is one man, one vote,” he stated.
