Over 9, 000 supporters of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) have dumped their parties for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) ahead of the governorship election come 2023.
The decampees who thronged into Ugbolokposo, Uvwie local government area of the state, the venue where SDP, a social movement received the defectors who came to submit their brooms and umbrellas, which are the symbols of their parties, before they were set ablaze, was filled to overflow.
Addressing the decampees, the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, assured the PDP and APC defectors that the SDP would not take them for granted.
He challenged them on the need to obtain their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC), in order to chase the PDP out of power and not to allow the APC to clinch the governorship.
“What will make sense is for all of you to go out on the election day and cast your votes. The election is a very important day, the federal government declares a public holiday simply because they wants everybody to go and exercise his or her own franchise.
“Make sure you go out there. Nobody should intimidate you, nobody should harass you and make sure you cast your vote. Vote for SDP, solidarity, economic development, security and infrastructural development”.
While noting that his message to the defectors and the generality of Deltans, he disclosed that they would return to handover the party’s flag to the gubernatorial candidate of the party in the state, Olorogun Gbagi, “this event today is to receive thousands of decampees officially into the party. That is why we are here”, he announced.
The presidential candidate of the party, Prince Adebayo Adewole, urged Deltans to vote for Gbagi, describing him as the lover of his people.
He said the Peoples’ Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress are currently in trouble as they have brought hunger, insecurity to the nation, “if you sees Gbagi, you will know that he is a leader and God’s sent to Delta. He has a good mind for Deltans and the state”.
Prince Adewole, who was represented by the former minister of Sports, Solomon Dalonge, said it is over for the old people who occupies position of authority sleeping while the country is in commotion.
“when they kidnap people, they are sleeping, bandits are killing people, setting houses ablaze and all they could do is for them to be sleeping. The time has past when we will handover this country to old men who are sleeping”.
According to him, the presidential candidates of the PDP and APC are old men who rather sleep than act, “the only person we can vote is Prince Adebayo Adewole”, he said.
The Adamawa State governorship candidate Dr. Umar Ardo, said: “myself and Gbagi, we have a very big task. The presidential candidate of PDP comes from Adamawa State and the Vice Presidential candidate of PDP comes from Delta State, we must not allow them to win.
“SDP will make all the change. The reason is that PDP and APC, since 1999, have collapse the country today whether you like it or not. So, let us rerire them. At the national, state and local government, we will retire them and you can do that with the ballot box.
“So, I implore all Deltans to please vote the man that will make all the changes that you want and that is Hon. Kenneth Gbagi”.
His counterpart in Taraba State and incumbent member representing Ardo-Kola, Lau and Kerim-Lamido Federal Constituency, Danladi Baido, called in Deltans to give Gbagi block votes come. 2023.
“Gbagi is the only man that will bring fairness to Delta State. With this mammoth crowd, I will go back to Taraba and I will tell the people of Taraba that my elder brother will win Delta State for SDP. I want to call on you that all the youths of Delta should come out emass to vote for Gbagi.
“Don’t sell your votes, please. We are tired of PDP and APC. It’s time to change the change now. Let’s change it and Nigeria and Delta will be better”.
Also, the governorship candidate of the party in Ogun state and former Commissioner for Environment, Tony Ojeshina, noted, “for the first time in the history of Delta State, you have somebody that is bringing new glory to Delta State.
“Gbagi, loves the youths, he has experience in the public and private sectors, he is a successful man. What he wants is for Delta State to be well better than it is today and I know that he can do it. I am going back to my state to tell them that I came and I saw the youths, women, men who are hundred percent behind Gbagi. Go and get your PVC”, he declared.
Several others who spoke said with Gbagi piloting the affairs of the state, poverty, insecurity, infrastructural decay would be a thing of the past, “Kenneth Gbagi, is one Nigerian that is wearing the shoes of Late Enahoro and Chief Okotie-Eboh.
“Please, don’t play with your future, lives. What you have burnt today, is PDP and APC”.
