The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State says it has concluded plans to receive about 8,000 decampees from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

A statement issued on Sunday in Port Harcourt by Jerry Needam, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the State PDP Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah said the PDP position follows endless list of decampees from the APC to the PDP in Rivers State, the latest of which include the former Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s Chief Political Strategist, Chief Emeh Glory Emeh, leading other chieftains of the APC back to the PDP.

“Chief Emeh’s bold move has further opened the door for over 8,000 decampees from the APC across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state, the latest members of the APC decampees came from Asari-Toru and Degema Local Government Areas of the state, respectively.

“Chief Emeh Glory Emeh was a Senior Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Commissioner for Transport and Aviation during Governor Odili administration and Chief of Staff, Rivers State Government House. He is a grassroots mobiliser, lawyer and Chartered Accountant, who has since his return to the PDP, coordinated the daily defections of members and leaders of the APC to the PDP, some of which include the over 200 former Councillors of the APC, who were sacked by the Court, former SA to Amaechi on Internal Revenue, Nwankwo Nwankwo, former Commissioner for Culture under Rotimi Amaechi, Sunny Nwokekoro, APC Leader in ONELGA, Merino Okiraija, former Chairman of Emohua LGA, Bob Okala, and numerous non-indigenes residing in the various LGAs who left the APC, amongst others. These are clear indications that the APC structure in the state has collapsed.

“Meanwhile, the Chairman of the PDP in Rivers, Bro. Felix Obuah told a crowd at the party’s State Secretariat on Thursday that all is now set for the official reception of over 8000 decampees from the APC. The event shall hold on Thursday, April 13, 2017 in Port Harcourt. The PDP Chairman disclosed that Governor Nyesom Wike will formally receive the APC decampees.”

Obuah announced this when he received APC decampees from Akuku-Toru and Degema Local Government Areas.

According to the statement, the leader of the decampees from Akulga who was a leader of the LGA Legislative Assembly, Hon. Orolosama Amachree, at the event, accused former Governor Rotimi Amaechi of coercing all ‘elected’ Chairmen and Councillors of the APC into instituting legal action against the government of Chief (Barr) Nyesom Ezenwo Wike as a gimmick to make the state ungovernable.

According to Amachree whose scores of supporters turned the occasion into gyration amid singing and dancing, the violent activities of former Council Chairman, Ojukaye Flag Amachree had plunged the area into crisis which rendered his followers homeless, prompting them to flee to Abuja where they hoped to get succour from Amaechi who is Rivers APC Leader and Minister for Transportation.

“But when we met Amaechi, our leader in Abuja and told him of our predicament and requested his assistance to get accommodation, he bluntly told us, ‘If you don’t have accommodation why did you have to come to me. Am I the landlord of Abuja?’” said Amachree who is reputed for his grassroots followership.

“Another ‘big fish’ caught by the PDP dragnet was the Vice Chairman in Degema LGA, Hon. Samuel Ikiroma who stormed the PDP Secretariat with hundreds of supporters.

The soft-spoken APC leader who handed his councillorship certificate of return to State PDP Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah for destruction, said he was now enjoying genuine peace since he took the decision to dump the APC.

“As a consequence of the massive defection that is hitting the APC in Rivers State with Chief Emeh Glory Emeh who was the engine room and their Councillors who have all deserted the party, where then is the base and strength of the APC in Rivers State?

“It is on this premise that PDP believes that the only remnants, which include Rotimi Amaechi, Dakuku Peterside, Magnus Abe, Chris Finebone, the Abuja-based party Chairman, Davies Ikanya, and their errand boys, are only holding on because of shame and fear of not being re-admitted under the PDP umbrella.

“PDP State Chairman, Bro. Obuah therefore, assures the ill-fated members of the APC sinking boat to take advantage of the spacious and well-ventilated ‘umbrella’ to commence the process of their home-coming, as the party is ready to receive them, if they genuinely repent of their sins against Rivers people and be ready to key into the development vision and good governance championed by Gov. Nyesom Wike in the State.

“Bro. Obuah again welcomes all the former APC members, who have refused to be further deceived and obstructed by Amaechi and his allies, from coming back to the PDP, assuring them of proper treatment and enjoyment of all rights and privileges available in the party, without discrimination.

“The Rivers PDP Chairman, Bro Obuah also announced that some former commissioners who served under Rotimi Amaechi as well as some of his personal aides, including some leaders of the State APC have also indicated interest to decamp to the PDP and participate in the reception party on Thursday in Port Harcourt,” the PDP said in the statement.

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