BY SAA-AONDO ADZEGEH and PHILIP AGADA, Markudi –
In the build up to the 2023 general election, Benue State is witnessing a gale of decampments sweeping across the state with thousands cross carpeting into the two major political parties in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC)
For the APC, yesterday marked a third straight day of the decamping expedition as large numbers decamped from the party in Logo Local Government from where the former Governor and current Senator representing Benue North East Senatorial District, Sen. Gabriel Suswam hails, to the APC.
The trend which started for the party on Saturday with an elaborate decamping ceremony in Kwande local government to the APC, and climaxed on Sunday in Naka witnessing the decamping of four prominent PDP stalwarts, including two former House of Reps members, a former gubernatorial candidate, a youth leader, and also the former Governorship flag bearer of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Rev. Fred Ikyaan in the 2019 general elections into the party.
This occasion was particularly significant to the APC because leading the decampees was Prince Simon Aondona, Governor Samuel Ortom’s in-law and paternal uncle of the Benue First Lady, Mrs. Eunice Ortom.
Present to receive the decamped was former Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister, Senator George Akume, who told the cheering crowd, “We are here to witness this great event that is taking place here in Naka. This has never happened before in the history of Benue State. It is the first time such a thing is happening, since the days of Shagari in 1979,” Akume said.
Emphasizing that Aôndona is Governor Ortom’s father in-law, Akume said if Prince Aôndona is leading such a large number of people out of the PDP, it is clear that nothing is left of the party in Benue State.
“They have said goodbye to the sinking ship and have joined the APC where Nigeria is going. In 2023, we are going to take over Government House,” Akume enthused.
Receiving the new entrants, the Chairman of APC in the state, Comr Austine Agada, said in 2023, with the support of the people, APC will produce a governor that will be sensitive to the plight of the people.
Agada accused Ortom of insensitivity to the plight of the people, saying he has proven to be the worse governor in the history of Benue State.
The people, Agada noted, must rise up and take their destiny in their own hands by supporting APC. He assured that there is no discrimination in the party.
Meanwhile in similar vein, the PDP in its light has not taken these without its retaliation as even on the the day of the “Naka mega decamping” loyalist of the PDP had held a rally in Aondona, the hometown of Hon. Simon Aondona who was leading the to APC decamping same day.
In an action which seemed to say the people of Aondona were still with the PDP, the party in the council ward held a rally under the auspices of voter sensitization where prominent party leaders of the party in the council ward and Local Government addressed the people .
The sensitization rally however turned out to be an endorsement event for the PDP as those present were said to have pledged their support to the PDP and the Samuel Ortom administration.
As if that was not enough while yesterday’s APC decamping ceremony was holding in Ukum, the PDP, led by Governor Samuel Ortom held what could be termed a counter mega rally, in Konshisha Local Government home to former Senator and APC frontline Governorship aspirant, Sen. Barnabas Gemade and also four time House of Representatives member and governorship aspirant whose uncle was also amongst the decamped, Rt. Hon. Herman Hembe .
Receiving the defectors to the PDP at Tse-Agberagba, the Governor called on members of the PDP to come together and rebuild the party irrespective of their individual ambitions to enable the party become strong for the challenges ahead.
The Governor who was sandwiched by other party leaders stated that owing to the abysmal performance of the APC-led administration at the centre which has battered the economy and worsened security, Nigerians will revolt against the party using the ballot in 2023.
Governor Ortom expressed optimism that the PDP will not only retain Benue in the 2023 general elections but also win the three senatorial seats, the eleven House of Representatives positions and all 32 seats for the Benue State House of Assembly.
He stated that he remains committed to protecting the interest of Benue people as his core mandate, pointing out that he will continue to resist invasion of the Benue land in whatever form.
The Governor assured the decampees of equal opportunities in the PDP, stressing that the party has no new comers and will treat everyone as old members.
He gave assurances that the PDP will reclaim the leadership of Nigeria in the 2023 general elections, while also maintaining that the party will still retain Benue winning all elective positions.
Senator representing Benue North East, Dr Gabriel Suswam who was also on hand, charged the people to register massively in the voter’s registration exercise in order to ensure that the PDP wins convincingly in 2023.
Senator Suswam described Governor Ortom as a fighter and true defender of his people who has all it takes to represent his people.
State Chairman of the PDP, Sir John Ngbede who took a swipe at the decamping ceremony held the previous day in Naka, described the defection of PDP members into the APC in Gwer West and Kwande as a scam.
Leaders of the defectors from APC to PDP in Konshisha include two terms House of Assembly Member, Rt Hon Shimawua Azaigba, Hon Ugba Alough, uncle to House of Representatives Member representing Jechira, Hon Tyokula Yainjoh and Engr Baba Agan among others who told the crowd gathered that they decided to join the PDP to join forces with the Governor and other leaders to liberate Benue.
However as events continue to unfold, political pundits suggest that the wave has just begun and the state may continue to witness more of these defections in the journey to 2023.
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