2027: Why Defections Don’t Bother Us — Delta PDP Chairman
Chief Solomon Arenyeka, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Delta State Chapter, on Wednesday said the party is not bothered by the defection of members as its founding fathers play politics of ideology.
Arenyeka stated this when the executives and some members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Asaba Correspondents Chapel, paid him a courtesy visit at the PDP Secretariat, Asaba.
Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North in the Senate, announced his exit from the PDP on Friday through a resignation letter addressed to the Ward 8 Chairman of Aniocha North Local Government Area in the state.
According to Arenyeka, as the state party chairman, all machinery has been put in place to take care of defectors out of and into the PDP.
“As a party, we are not too bothered but we will do all that is necessary to ensure that the party retains its pride of place in the state because as people are leaving, more are coming into the party,” he said.
Arenyeka said those who remained in PDP these years despite all odds played politics of ideology and development, which is evident in the almost two years of the Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori-led administration.
He, however, said that it was not time for politics, as the governor was concentrating on governance, adding that when the time for politics comes, its doors would be open and logistics provided to meet the exigencies.
The Delta PDP chairman queried why anyone could abandon a house he or she had built for many years.
“Defection started long ago but the unique thing is that the party they had defected to, particularly the All Progressives Congress (APC), had a majority of members from the PDP.
“Let me put it on record that there is no party without crisis because politics is of interest; interest for services, some genuine while some are not genuine.
“We have seen defections in the party, but I make bold to say that as a party in this state, we are not afraid of defections,” he said.
The chairman said that these defectors today occupy certain positions in their new parties.
“But what they could not do right when they were in the PDP for many years, I do not see what they have to tell the people of Delta that they want to do right between now and 2027.
“We are the stronger and founding members of the PDP and with the genuine interest of the party since its formation in the state in 1999;
“We will remain to salvage whatever that is remaining in the party to ensure that in 2027, PDP will still maintain its lead in Delta State,” he maintained.
He commended the media as partners in development and nation-building, adding that no organisation, party or government could succeed without the media.
The chairman said, ”There is no way a party or government can function effectively without the press. As the fourth estate of the realm, the press is a partner in progress.
“I want to promise you that in my administration as the party chairman, we will always close all gaps between the party and the media.”
Earlier, the Chairman of Asaba Correspondents Chapel, Mr Ifeanyi Olannye, urged the PDP Chairman to keep an open-door policy to enable journalists to have access to information without hitches.
He said, ”As partners, we expect you to work closely with us to ensure a seamless communication flow to avoid misrepresentation in line with our mandate of balancing reports before going to press.
“While congratulating you on your well-deserved appointment, this visit is to deepen our partnership with the party as gatekeepers and the fourth estate of the realm.
“With the wind of defections here and there and given the claims for the drifts, we are mindful of the task ahead to keep pace with the development trajectory.
“Particularly on your efforts to maintain and sustain the party structure and to wield members together ahead of 2027 in line with the Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori philosophy of the M.O.R.E. Agenda,” Olannye said.
2027: Why Defections Don’t Bother Us — Delta PDP Chairman is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
