More than 200 members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Bua Zaakpon community in Khana Local Government Area and Akpajo community in Eleme Local Government Area have decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC), as part of “Choose-your-senator-campaign” in Rivers South East Senatorial District.

Speaking at Zaakpon community while receiving the decampees, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, the APC candidate for the zone the upper legislative assembly rerun elections, commended the people of Rivers South East for resolving to resist the imposition of a senator for the people of the district, by Governor. Nyesom Wike.

Abe lamented the marginalisation of Ogoni people, saying:

“Rivers State will be celebrating its 50 years anniversary next year. And, in that 50 years, no Ogoni son has been speaker, deputy-governor, governor, chief judge. Is that not marginalisation?”

The former Secretary to Rivers State Government stated that the detractors of Ogoni people had always blamed the neglect on the allegation that Ogoni people do not love themselves, pointing out that such was erroneous.

Abe said the Ogoni people had resolved to prove to their detractors that they love themselves, by agreeing to vote for a senator of their choice in the person of himself.

Speaking in pidgin English, he said: “When we ask them, them say we hate ourselves; we no love ourselves; we dey kill each other. I don tell them say the thing we fit do even the people wey dey think say them love themselves, no go fit do am and on December 10, we will prove to the world that we have sense and we know each other and we will return APC massively.”

He assured the people that they would benefit more in APC than in PDP, pointing out that for now their son had been appointed an Executive Director of Finance and Administration in NDDC, a position they had not got since the inception of the commission.

He also said the UNEP report implementation was on course and that if voted a senator, he would fast-track the implementation.

Abe challenged those who said he would not visit Zaakpon community to come and see the turnout of people for the rally.

At Akpajo community, Abe said he was overwhelmed by the turnout of the people, which he said had proved that the people had made up their minds to vote for a senator of their choice, who was not imposed by Government House.

“This morning, nai I come from Abuja. From Abuja, I go Andoni LGA. As I reach there, everywhere APC. From there I go Sogho-Luusue in Khana LGA on private visit, everywhere APC. As I leave there, I go Zaakpon, big APC rally. That place wey them say I no fit go, the whole village come out. As I leave there, I go Gokana LGA, everywhere for Gokana, APC. As I leave there I come Akpajo, everywhere APC. The people of Rivers South East Senatorial District everywhere them don talk say na them go take their hand choose their senator, Wike no go choose senator for us.”

Abe told the cheering supporters that APC had been winning all the way from Edo State to Ondo State, and would also win in Rivers State.

“Everywhere wey them don vote na APC win. Them vote for Edo state, APC win; for Ondo state, who win? APC. This time around,we go vote for Rivers State. Election by AK47 is over. Everybody go and look for your PVC. On the 10th of December, there will be voting in Rivers state and when we finish voting, APC will win.”

Earlier in their speeches, Chief Gani Topba of Zaakpon community and Robinson Osaroluka of Akpajo community assured the senator that the people have keyed into his “Choose-your-senator-campaign”, adding that by December 10, “Abe would be returned as senator-elect.

•Photo shows Senator Magnus Abe.

Update news