Zonal chairmen of the three senatorial districts of Kogi who were on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Thursday, August 10, officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside all the party’s chairpersons in the 21 local government areas of the state.
Speaking on their defection at the Government House in Lokoja, the decampees revealed that they resolved to place the continuous development of the state and wellbeing of indigenes over other considerations.
On his part, Suleiman Isah, SDP’s zonal chairman for Kogi East, criticised the party’s campaign, which he said was based on ethnicity, arguing that it was detrimental to the state’s socio-cultural wellbeing and could undermine the peace enjoyed in the past few years.
Isah said: “We are happy that this is happening today. Even while we were in the opposition, we were aware that you did a lot for the state. The infrastructure projects are what anyone cannot deny, Your Excellency.
“We have all decided to join the APC to support the efforts at further developing the state. And we will give all the necessary support to ensure victory for the APC candidate in the governorship election.”
He hailed Governor Yahaya Bello for his commendable accomplishments in health, education, road infrastructure, and agriculture, among others, over the past seven years.
He assured Governor Bello of the commitment of all the SDP chairpersons to the Kogi Agenda through the APC candidate, Ododo Ahmed Usman.
Also, the acting Chairman of SDP for Kogi Central Senatorial District, Zubairu Ibrahim, commended the governor for infrastructure development in the state and specifically acknowledged his significant efforts at ensuring the security of lives and property.
He said the people of Kogi State now enjoyed improved security and peace compared to what was obtained in the past, stressing that well-meaning Kogites would not sacrifice that on the altar of politics.
Receiving the defectors, the governor commended what he called their courageous step, as well as their willingness to contribute to the advancement of the state.
