Politics
Imo PDP Reps to dump party for APC, meet Gov Okorocha
Barring any last minute change, at least five lawmakers from Imo State who are current members of the Eight House of Representatives, may soon dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
As part of last minute moves to finalize the defection, about four, out of the five, on Sunday, met with the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha in Owerri, the state capital.
Those who attended the meeting were Hon. Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe, who doubles as the chairman of Imo State Caucus in the House of Representatives. It was gathered that he led other members of his party to the meeting with Governor Okorocha.
Others are Hon. Goodluck Opiah; Hon. Obinna Onwubuariri; and Hon. Jerry Alagboso. The other unnamed member who did not attend the meeting, it was gathered, had other official engagements outside the state. “But he has indicated interest to ditch the PDP,” a source familiar with the development said.
Of the eight PDP members from Imo State currently in House, three have however vowed to remain with a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, who is the defacto leader of the party in the state.
“Hon. Igbokwe led other members of PDP to the meeting. The plan has been on for a while and I am certain that there is no going back for them. You can take my word to the bank.
“The meeting speaks volume. As of now, seven out of ten members are working with the governor. The other three members are still with Emeka Ihedioha. We cannot force them and we wish them well.
“Whenever there are major events in the state, they invite us and we attend. That speaks volumes and it also conveys a strong political message,” a member who was at the meeting, told Ripples Nigeria.
It was gathered that Hon. Igbokwe has been at the forefront of those spearheading the planned defection. Igbokwe who hails from Mbaise area of the state, alongside Ihedioha, is particularly bent on dumping the PDP over his alleged frustration by the former Deputy Speaker.
The PDP members are also relying on the current crisis rocking the PDP to defect to APC, ahead of 2019 general elections.
Speaking on the issue, Hon. Igbokwe, told Ripples Nigeria that there is nothing wrong with defection. Although he did not confirm or deny the claims, he however maintained that since the PDP was in disarray, it was safe for anyone to ditch the party.
He said: “There is nothing wrong with defection if it becomes necessary. When you are in a house divided against itself or cannot protect you, there may be nothing wrong if you move into another house that can give you protection.
Read also: Your allegation against me, Oni irresponsible, Fayemi tells Fayose
“Lawmakers from the state have decided to look at the interest of the state and not that of political parties. We need to work with the government in the state in order to attract infrastructure to the state. What is critical for us is the development of the state.
“No governor has given attention to members of the National Assembly like Governor Okorocha. We can also attest to the level of development in the state. There is massive development going on in the state.
“Every politics is local. If it becomes expedient, there is nothing wrong if a politician defects to another party that serves his or her interest. Imo state is a peculiar case. A certain man who contested election and lost is now openly boasting that he will frustrate us. He is talking as if he is God.
“Yakubu Dogara was formerly in the PDP, today, he is the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Bukola Saraki was governor for eight years on the platform of PDP. Today, he is the Senate President on the platform of APC.”
RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...
SPECIAL REPORT: Torturous experiences of students with disabilities in Oyo tertiary institutions
For students with disabilities in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions, learning is a torturous and distressing experience, considering the building structures...
JOHNSON PETER
January 5, 2017 at 4:02 pm
Nothing can hold or bring back pdp as the strongest party again, they have lost it. Eeeeyah
seyi jelili
January 5, 2017 at 4:07 pm
Naso. Everything na time in life. Pdp used 16 years to reign and no other party has that achievement for now, apc will also crash in a long run especially with their aimless policies. They can’t last long like pdp.
yanju omotodun
January 5, 2017 at 4:39 pm
As no party ideologies in Nigeria, it makes it a thing of celebration when politicians cross carpet to other political parties which ought to be shameful. Ordinarily, when you cross carpet to other political party, then the position you are holding should be rendered null and void as it was the platform of the political party you left that gave you the mandate to be in the political office you are , but as in Nigeria, when you cross carpet, you still maintain your political position which makes it a rampant thing in Nigerian politics.
We need to redefine party politics and ideologies if our democracy must thrive.
Joy Madu
January 5, 2017 at 4:45 pm
Wao, you must be a political analyst. Nigerian politicians don’t respect the true tenets of democracy.
chichi emerue
January 5, 2017 at 4:49 pm
Am sure okorocha paid this people heavily for them to have defected to apc. It is beyond what we see at the surface level.
Margret Dickson
January 5, 2017 at 5:47 pm
All these political harlots think they are doing the right thing by jumping from one political party to other anyhow. When it’s time for Karma to catch up on them, it will surely embrace them. By the time their new party lost, they’d realize theirs no pride in crossing carpet
Animashaun Ayodeji
January 5, 2017 at 5:49 pm
There’s nothing wrong in crossing carpets in the interest of the state or constituency they are representing. If they do it with positive mindset and not selfish interest, it is totally acceptable
Johnson Amadi
January 5, 2017 at 5:53 pm
Stop acting like you don’t know politics is pure nonsense in Nigeria. Have you ever seen a politician in Nigeria who joined another party without the interest of his/her pocket? We need to wake up, these people are fighting for their pockets, not the state
Roland Uchendu Pele
January 5, 2017 at 5:59 pm
Defection has become a norm. The political class are just abusing all that this country stands for. It is an abuse of democracy.