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Massive defection on Friday hit the camp of the All Progressives Congress APC in Benue State as five ward chairmen of the party and other prominent members in Makurdi Local Government Area defected with their supporters to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The ward chairmen include Pever Jacob of Bar, Ibrahim Hassan of Central South Mission, Audu Jacob of Modern Market, Tor Joseph of Walomayo and Orshio Clifford of Mbalagh, where the APC governorship candidate in the 2019 elections, Emmanuel Jime, hails.
A defection ceremony which took place at the LGEA Primary School, Wurukum, Makurdi ,was attended by top government officials and PDP stalwarts across the state, during which Governor Samuel Ortom, while receiving them, said they took a wise decision to dump the APC which he described as a failed political party that could not secure lives and economy of the country.
Ortom, who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Hon Terwase Orbunde, told the defectors that the PDP was the only political party that could guarantee the security and economic survival of the country and assured them of equal rights and privileges in the party.
Chairman of the PDP in the state, Sir John Ngbede, expressed delight that the defection of six APC ward chairmen and other top members had weakened APC in the local government, and urged the public to vote APC out of power at the national level to ensure a better Nigeria.
He congratulated the defectors for joining a stronger and winning party and called on them to rally round Governor Samuel Ortom to enable him defend the people and to undertake more people oriented projects.
On their part, member representing Makurdi-Guma, Hon Benjamin Mzondu, Assembly member for Makurdi South, Terwase Aondoakaa and a former Senator, Fred Orti said the defectors have joined PDP at the right time and urged them to be participating fully in the activities of the party.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Ibrahim Alhassan formerly of the APC Central Mission and Solomon Kwaghtser formerly of APC Makurdi South said the decision to join the PDP was to team up with the Governor who they noted had done well in tackling the security challenges confronting the state.
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