The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State has reacted to the defection of a former Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Itiako Ikpokpo.
Speaking on the development on Friday, the APC state Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo, expressed the party’s openness to receive new members, describing Ikpokpo’s defection as a positive move.
“I am yet to get details about his intended defection, but I can assure you that ordinarily, our party operates an open-door policy. Anyone who wants to join is free to do so in accordance with the provisions of the party’s constitution,” Onojeghuo said.
Ikpokpo’s defection is coming after a 27-year sojourn with the PDP, during which he served in various leadership capacities.
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In his resignation letter, he expressed gratitude to the PDP for shaping his political career, but noted that his decision to join the APC was influenced by President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
“Like none before him, Mr. President has demonstrated the courage and political willpower to re-engineer the nation’s trajectory,” Ikpokpo stated.
He explained that after extensive consultations with political leaders and associates, he was convinced that supporting the Tinubu administration was a necessity.
The APC described the defection as a testament to the growing confidence in the party’s governance performance index at both the state and national levels.
