September 10, (THEWILL) – A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Sam Jaja, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Chief Jaja was received into the PDP, along with his supporters, on Saturday, by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
Jaja was a former Chairman of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) and also a kinsman to the Rivers PDP governorship candidate, Siminialayi Fubara.
At a ceremony in Port Harcourt, the state capital, the ex-RSIEC boss alleged he suffered in APC.
He said he was sidelined, dumped, and made redundant for nine years, yet he was one of the early defectors of the party.
But he acknowledged that now the future looks bright for him and his supporters in this second journey to PDP.
He said: “I have been struggling and redundant in APC these last nine years. I am someone who takes delight in touching lives, raising people, but when I discovered I have not been able to make anybody for such a long time, I was suffocating.
“I decided that instead of remaining in a party where I am no longer recognised or needed, it will be better to quit and go out there to struggle on my own.
“Our return to PDP is more like a home coming, we are not in a strange land, and I am grateful to you all for the decision to join me back to our former party PDP. PDP is liberal and accommodating.”
Clearing the air on the rumour that he was wooed to the party with N200 million, and other incentives, Jaja said he sought the defection by himself and was grateful he was accepted, hence did not need any inducement by anybody.
“When the governor saw that I was still using 2004 model Land Cruiser gifted to me by a white man before I joined APC, he felt pity for me and decided to change the car for me; he gave me a brand new jeep, which I drove back home that day”, he said.
Former APC spokesman, Chris Finebone, said their defection had crippled APC in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government.
He recommended one of Governor Wike’s viral songs for their consolation and encouragement.
“Today, I recommend a song by our Leader, Governor E N Wike (sang and danced to the tune of the song), for those people who gathered yesterday (referring to APC members), they need it to keep them alive because APC is dead in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area.
“I and our father here (talking about Chief Jaja), here left with the soul of APC)”, he boasted.
Other speakers at the event expressed solidarity, support and commitments to the interests of their political leaders, Jaja and Wike in the forthcoming elections.
Those who defected along with Sam Sam Jaja, included Chief George Tolofari, Princewill Dike, Hon. Fred Igwe, Hon. George B. Nwidam, Hon. Kennedy Ebeku, Ph.D., and thousands of their supporters.
According to one of the APC defectors, the laudable achievement of Gov Wike was one of the reasons why they were dumping their party.
He said that teaming up with the governor would create better opportunities for more development for the state and the people.
The reception for the defectors, tagged “11th-hour homecoming”, was held at Isaac Boro Park in Port Harcourt.
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