2023: Akume's Kinsmen Defect in Droves From APC to PDP, Cite Oppression as Reason
- The APC in Benue state has suffered a serious setback politically as thousands of its members moved to the PDP
- The defection is particularly significant as the defectors are from the same local government with Senator George Akume
- Akume is a former governor of the state and currently serving as the minister of special duties and inter-governmental affairs
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Tarka - Thousands of kinsmen of a former governor of Benue state, Senator George Akume, defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday, January 16.
Akume is currently President Muhammadu Buhari's minister of special duties and inter-governmental affairs.
Source: Twitter
In his hometown of Wannune in Tarka local government area, the PDP received thousands of decampees, according to a statement sent to Legit.ng by Bemgba Iortyom, Benue PDP publicity secretary and 2023 campaign spokesman.
The leader of the defectors, Hon. Dennis Tser aka Baba Denny, speaking on behalf of the others, expressed their tiredness with
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“being on an unrewarding side of the political divide where only the leader, Akume, and his inner family circle get to benefit and feed fat while every other person continues to suffer.”
He pointed to recent events where Akume made his wife Regina Akume the House of Reps candidate of the APC for Gboko/Tarka federal constituency after a younger distant relation of the minister had been favoured by majority of APC faithful in the area for the ticket.
He also pointed to when Akume appointed himself and his wife Regina among the 3 national delegates from Tarka to the APC Presidential Convention in Abuja late last year as evidence of impunity and insensitivity.
According to him, such actions over time characterised the former governor's style of leadership.
Another defector who spoke at the event said that APC in Benue should best be described as "Akume's Personal Company"
The decampees openly burnt their APC membership cards as well as hundreds of brooms which symbolise the party, as they were received into the PDP and promised equal opportunities as the old members.
Highlights of the event included the presentation of Engr. Titus Tyoapine Uba to the people as the PDP governorship candidate for the 2023, who promised to consolidate on and build on the legacy of the Ortom administration when voted into power.
INEC finally releases list of 93.4 million registered voters
Meanwhile, ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently revealed there are 93.4 million registered voters in Nigeria.
Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, announced this on Wednesday, January 11, at a meeting with political parties at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
At the meeting, Yakubu presented the voters’ register to the political parties in accordance with the electoral act.
INEC sends important message to Nigerian voters ahead of 2023 general elections
In a related development, Nigerians have been assured that the 2023 general election will be conducted as scheduled no matter the level of threat.
This was disclosed by the INEC commissioner and chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye.
Okoye made this known as the electoral umpire continues to face attacks on its facilities in different locations across the country.
Source: Legit.ng
