Thousands of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) members have dumped their parties for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Pipeline, Ughelli north local government area of Delta State.
The mammoth defectors were led by Engr. Adebayo Henry Modupe, Ward 2/6 Chairman of APC on Saturday December 31st 2022.
Addressing the defectors, the incoming Governor of the state under the platform of SDP, His Excellency Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi OON, charged the decampees to reject all PDP and APC candidates in the forthcoming general election.
He told them not to allow them to be deceived, used and dumped by people with selfish ambition as SDP has good prospect for free education and youth emancipation.
“PDP and APC have told us lies but we will prove to them that they are the fools.
“Olorogun Felix Ibru, is not a criminal, he is not like PDP and APC, that is why we decided to enter his footprint so that we can do what he promised to do.
“If he had stayed in government a bit longer, all of these places would have been developed.
“I plead with you, if you enter Ughelli today, like you enter Ughelli 25 years ago, Ughelli was like London but look at it today, Ughelli has remained undeveloped because there is no government.
“Let us think deeply, let us not act foolishly, let them not deceive you, we have been deceived for too long. Tell your wives, brothers and sisters that this is our own.
“Among those contesting, I am the only Urhobo contesting for the governor, the others are not complete Urhobos. If you look at it very well, I am the only Urhobo son, that is vying for the governorship. My father is from Oginibo and my mother is from Idjere”, calling on them to massively votes for the SDP come 2023.
On the presidential election, the former minister of State for education, said there was an agreement that after the north finishes their tenure, power would shift to the south.
“We said after one north has ruled Nigeria, the other person will come from the south”, he charged them not to waste their votes for the presidential candidates of the APC, Bola Ahmed Asiwaju Tinubu and that of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar.
“We can never this time vote another Muslim”, he said.
According to him, only two southerners are qualified for the presidential contest, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo Esq., and that of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi.
He however said the SDP Presidential candidate, merits the votes of Nigerians come 2023.
Also speaking, the South-south Vice Chairman of SDP, Elder Fred Owotorofa, who received the decampees, expressed joy over their defection, saying their coming into the SDP fold means they are tired of the bad leadership exhibited in the ruling PDP and opposition APC which speak for itself.
He said the administration of Olorogun Felix Ibru, witnessed unprecedented development across the state, calling on those without their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) to obtain them and ensure it translate into votes.
The Deputy governorship candidate of the party, Chief Mrs Oshilim Ishioma Rosemary, told them that “Your PVC is the ticket to government house, that is what we will use to say no to insecurity, unemployment and hardship.
“Go to the polling unit and vote for our party. I am happy that you people that are APC and PDP before, you have come to join us”.
The Director General (DG) of the Gbagi Campaign Council, Prof. Jiff Mokobia, said: “You have made the best choice for coming to join the SDP.
“My dear brothers and sisters, today, you have made a very big choice. APC and PDP are same people, they make promises and they don’t fulfill them.
“I hope all of you have your PVC? Those of you who goes to church, they says faith without works is dead.
“As you have made the right choice today, the person who is coming has promised to pay N30, 000 each to every unemployed Delta youth before gainfully engaging them in various skills”, just as he tasked them to leave PDP and APC to join hands with SDP to liberate Delta State come 2023.
Engr. Adebayo Henry Modupe, leads Ward 2/6 which is the biggest ward with 91 Units.
Engr. Modupe, who spoke on behalf of the defectors said that, he and his colleagues left the PDP and APC due to injustice done to many members of their parties by some selfish persons who does not have the love and interest of the parties at heart.
He disclosed that, the APC and PDP used the power at their disposal to muzzle weak members by disenfranchising them through open abuse of power.
“Its a shame, there is nothing to show and nothing to tell people of Delta state during campaigns”, he said.
According to him, “we are tired of working for APC and PDP without getting anything. There is no light in the other side, they only call us to come and work and after work, we have nothing to show.
“PDP and APC, they failed us, the youths, women and men worked but they failed us.
“We have been working for so many years but we discovered that there is no life but when it comes to SDP, the symbol is life.
“Even Jesus Christ himself recognize that. We have come to pitch our tents with SDP and work with Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, of SDP come 2023”, he said.
