Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Mr Dameshi Luka, says he defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was due to the “attitude of exclusion exhibited by the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC)’’.
Stating that He and his teaming supporters across the state have decided to move over to the PDP with immediate effect.
He also stated that he was unable to register as an APC member as he was out of the country during the registration exercise.
Luka made the clarification on Tuesday at the PDP secretariat in Lafia, while addressing newsmen shortly after submitting a letter of intent to join the party.
He said that his purported suspension from the APC while he was away in the U.S.A. did not follow conventional procedure and was targeted at humiliating him.
He alleged that he was accused of disloyalty by honouring President Goodluck Jonathan’s invitation to accompany him on the 2013 pilgrimage to Israel.
According to him, Gov. Al-Makura misinterpreted the spiritual obligation as a plan being hatched to unseat him.
Luka said he opposed the directive of the APC leadership to its members in the National Assembly to block all executive bills, including 2014 Appropriation Bill.
“I want to reiterate that as a patriotic citizen, I stand firmly on that statement and insist that national interest must supercede party or any other interests,’’ he added.
Luka said he was yet to register as a member of the APC since he was away during the party’s membership registration exercise, and wondered how he could have been suspended from a party he was yet to register as a member.
“My disinterest to register with the APC is not unconnected with the attitude of exclusion exhibited by the leadership of the party with the active collaboration of the governor.
“Consequently, I and my teaming supporters across the state have decided to move over to the PDP with immediate effect,” Luka said.
Mr Yunana Iliya, the PDP state Chairman, likened Luka’s action to the biblical prodigal son, adding that the party was glad to have him back in the umbrella.
Iliya said the deputy governor and others who recently defected to the PDP would soon be hosted to a grand reception to be graced by the national leadership of the party.
Hmm, the Lord is our strength