APC faces more serious challenge as party bigwig defects to PDP
- Chief Paulinus Akpeki, a former member of the PDP in Delta who defected to the APC has again defected to the PDP
- His return to the party is coming on the heels of former Governor James Ibori's return to Delta state
- His defection to the PDP is believed to be due to Ibori's presence in the state and his endorsement of Governor Okowa for 2019
The future of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta state is becoming bleak as another political bigwig who defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, Chief Paulinus Akpeki, has again, defected to the PDP.
Paulinus Akpeki, who was a former commissioner and chief of staff in the administration of former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, dumped the PDP soon after the expiration of the government of Emmanuel Uduaghan.
He cited various anomalies and accusations against Uduaghan by the present administration as part of the reasons for defecting to the All Progressives Congress and vowed to bruise the PDP with his connections and bring the party to its knees.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Chief Pauilinus Akpeki who just defected from the APC to PDP in Delta state
He was wonderfully embraced by leaders and power brokers in the party and he has been in the party for over a year.
His defection to the PDP on Wednesday may not be unconnected with the return of Chief James Ibori to the state having served his jail term in London prisons.
In Delta state, Ibori is known to be the political decision maker and Akpeki being an Urhobo man from Sapele, the same senatorial district with Ibori, it cannot be argued why he traced his steps back to the PDP family.
Also, a few days back, Ibori endorsed Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of the state for 2019, barring all Urhobo politicians from contesting the 2019 governorship election with Okowa, hence Akpeki may have seen that there is no need remaining in APC, a party which, in his calculation, may have no power in the 2019 general elections in delta state.
Less than two weeks ago, more than 1,000 members of the APC in Ughelli north and Aniocha north defected to PDP in Delta state.
Former media manager to the APC governorship candidate in the state, Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, also defected to PDP less than a month ago. It has been defection galore from APC to PDP in the state.
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The defectors accused the leadership of the Delta APC for poor management of the party affairs and alleged acute corruption which they said finally crashed the executive members of the party.
It was further alleged that the $30,000 (N13 million) Christmas gift in December 2016 by Dr. Ibe Kachikwu was hijacked by some smart executive members of the party which cracked the rank and file of the party in the state.
The latest defector, Chief Akpeki was at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja where he had a brief discussion with Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh and in the process announced his return to the PDP.
He defected with his political associates, supporters and loyalists.
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