August Pax
A contentious situation has emerged in the Ika region of Delta State, Nigeria, as former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) local and ward chairmen are insisting that elected and appointed officials of Ika extraction who have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) continue to pay party dues to the PDP.
Sources reveal that this demand was conveyed to the Majority Leader of the legislative arm of Ika North East Local Government Area.
An anonymous source alleges that Hon. Chuks Agboma, a figure from the administration of the immediate past Governor, and the Ika North East Local Government PDP chairman received the directive from the former Governor which was conveyed to the councillors and appointees of Ika extraction
The core of the dispute lies in the former PDP leadership’s attempt to extract financial contributions from individuals who have switched political allegiance.
Countering this, a source close to the defected members argues the demand is illogical, asserting that any party dues are now owed to the APC. “I don’t understand why they are saying we should pay our party dues to the PDP after we have all defected,” the source stated. “It is clear to me that any party dues should be paid to our new party, the APC.”
