The gale sweeping chieftains of other political parties into the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue State yesterday hit Kwande and Vandeikya.
In Kwande a serving member of the House of Representatives, Chief Col Benjamin Aboho, APGA candidate in the March 28, 2015 , National Assembly elections dumped the party with thousands of his supporters for the APC.
Chief John Akpereshi, former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, State Youth Director did the same just like former Kwande chairman of the party, Chief Ahobee.
The decamping ceremony took place at the Adikpo Comprehensive College, ACC playground.
At the LGEA Central Primary School in Vandeikya earlier in the day, a prominent Makurdi-based business man, Major Uke Wende, rtd, and two retired permanent secretaries, S S Gbinde, and T T Ugese, as well as former education Secretary, Yawe, were among those who dumped the PDP for the APC.
The entire local government executive committee of the Accord Party in Vandeikya also dissolved into the APC.
Senator Dr George Akume, party leader in the state, represented by his wife, Chief Mrs Regina Akume, state chairman, Comrade Abba Yaro, state secretary, Onov Tyuulugh, Zone A Deputy chairman, Barrister Vincent Uji, and the APC guber candidate, Chief Dr Samuel Ortom were among APC dignitaries who received the new members.
Senator Akume commended the politicians for what he described as their wise decision to team up with the APC to enable it win the remaining elections overwhelmingly.
He described Chief Dr Ortom as a God ordained leader who would govern with the fear of God and compassion.
Speakers at the two occasions including Wende, Ugese, Aboho, Akpereshi and Dr Joseph Aganyi stated that they decided to join the APC in order to team up with progressives so as to salvage the statebfrom the current mess.
They said political leaders in the state have always preached against opposition politics hence their desire to also join the mainstream.
The state chairman, Comrade Yaro expressed gratitude to the people of the two areas for voting against the PDP and urged them to sustain the rejection of the party on Saturday.
Chief Dr Ortom expressed happiness that the dollar has started appreciating and the stock market recording unprecedented successes following General Buhari’s election saying these were signs that better days lay ahead.
He lamented the sale of the state’s shares in the Benue Cement Company as well as the acquisition of bonds by the state government the proceeds of which have been diverted into private pockets.
The former Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, pledged to implement policies that would create massive jobs, wealth and opportunities.