by Deborah Nnamdi, Port Harcourt
Some caretaker committee chairmen loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara have openly dumped the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Action People’s Party (APP) a few days before the October 5 local government elections.
The defection follows the alleged hijack of the state PDP structure by Governor Fubara’s predecessor and estranged godfather, Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Council chairmen and their supporters loyal to Governor Fubara have now joined the APP in their numbers, almost all candidates vying for chairmanship and councillorship positions in the forthcoming election are now running under the APP platform, with campaigns already underway.
Among the defectors are the CTC chairmen of Port Harcourt City Council, Khana and Obio-Akpor Ezebunwo Ichemati, Marvin Yobana,and Chijioke Ihunwo, respectively
On Monday, Rivers APP Chairman Sunny Wokekoro announced that the party would commence senatorial campaigns on September 24, starting with the Rivers South-East Senatorial District in Bori, Khana LGA.
Wokekoro described APP as the party to beat, stating that they aim to change the narrative in the state.
“As you are all aware candidates have emerged and have Successfully gone through RSIEC screening. By Tuesday, our party intends to embark on Senatorial campaigns and rallies.”
Despite the defection of his loyalists, Governor Fubara has denied any plans to defect from the PDP.
