Delta Governor and Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Sen. Dr.  Ifeanyi Okowa, has called on the party’s faithful in Ughelli Federal Constituency to close ranks to ensure victory for the party in the 2023 general polls in the state.

Okowa made the call on Saturday at the party’s rally held in Ughelli to receive defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the constituency, which he described as major stronghold of APC.

The constituency comprises Udu, Ughelli North and Ughelli South Local Government Areas.

The governor, who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Mr Festus Agas, said that receiving the defectors considered to be the pillars of APC into the PDP in Ughellli North and South was a big win for the party.

According to him, I am very happy with what has happened here today. You heard them when they said that traditionally, Ughelli North and South and Udu Federal Constituency, are strong holds of the APC.

“But today, what we witnessed is a walk away by most of the pillars of the APC from the party which they described as darkness, and into the PDP, which they called light.

“The PDP represents light, peace, progress and development. So as a stakeholder, I am very happy and I think with all these persons coming to join hands with us, we would be able to change the trajectory of Delta State.

“I am very optimistic that more than ever before, we are set to rescue, promote and bring prosperity to all Deltans.

” The pillars of the APC in Ughelli North today are so happy to walk away from bondage into freedom, as represented by the PDP,” he said.

Welcoming the defectors, the governor urged aggrieved PDP members in the state to sheath their swords and work together as one family to ensure victory at the general elections.

He said, ” I have pointed out the significance of today’s walk for our party. You recall that just yesterday, the Supreme Court affirmed Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori as the rightful gubernatorial  candidate of the PDP come 2023.

“For us, today, is a big day for democracy and all members of the PDP. In the spirit of sportsmanship, there is no victor and no vanquish.

“So I use this opportunity to call on members of PDP to sheath their swords and work together as a single family so that by 2023, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori will win the general election and be formally sworn in.

“If you follow his manifesto, he has told us that he would do more in the area of peace building, human capital development and infrastructural development. So it’s a win-win for all of us in the PDP,” he said.

The Chairman PDP Delta Central, Chief Patrick Fovie, in his remarks, stated that the PDP is a party that ensures internal democracy, stating that both old and new members, will enjoy equal opportunity in the party.

A PDP chieftain in the Delta Central Senatorial District, Chief John Oguma, congratulated the defectors for taking this bold step to walk out from darkness, as represented by the APC, into light, which is PDP.

He urged all members of the party to go and work for the party at their various units and ensure resounding victory come 2023.

One of the defectors, Barr Roland Oyibo held that “the APC is an autocratic party were you cannot air your view or speak your mind”. And that his leaving the party is a gift for his late mother.

The event was attended by party leaders from the Senatorial District such as Hon. Talib Tebite, Hon. Samuel Mariere, and many others.