From Blessing Ibunge, Port Harcourt
After last weeks defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) of the major actor, in the crisis that rocked the 8th Rivers State Assembly, Hon. Chidi Lloyd, the Rivers state APC has again experienced a mass defection of members to the PDP, as Chief Ambrose Igbokwe Nwuzi of Etche Local government area led thousands of former APC members to PDP on Sunday
Addressing the decampees at a ceremony held at State School, Afara in Etche, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, urged political leaders of PDP in the area to work together for the overall interest of their people.
Governor Wike said he made a promise to reconcile all aggrieved members of the party during his second term inauguration and would not allow further divisions in the party.
He called on the leader of the party in Etche Local Government Area, Prince Emma Anyanwu, to carry all members of the party along in the scheme of things.
“The leadership of Etche PDP should stop further disagreements and work together in unity. I do not want to hear anything like returnees.
“The people of Etche Ethnic Nationality have lost a lot of things because of division. You should see the overall interest of Etche far above personal interests.
“I have embarked on development projects in Etche including the Olakwo-Afara-Nihi Road even when Chief Ambrose Nwuzi was in APC.
“We shall provide more people oriented projects in your area during the lifespan of this administration.
“Let me commend Chief Ambrose Igbokwe Nwuzi for taking the bold step to return to the PDP,” the Governor stated
The State Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, in his speech, said the return of Chief Ambrose Igbokwe Nwuzi to the party was prompted by the development strides of the Governor across the state devoid of ethnic and political sentiments.
Ambassador Akawor stated that with the defection of Chief Nwuzi to the PDP, there is no more APC in Etche Local Government Area.
In his speech, Chief Ambrose Igbokwe Nwuzi apologised to the people of Etche people for what he described as his sabbatical journey to the APC, which he described APC as a party of unfulfilled promises, noting that with his return to the PDP there would be more defections to the party in the coming days.
