Deputy governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Mr Akpo Yeeh, has defected from his party to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and has declared support for Governor Nyesom Wike.

AAC, backed by Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, emerged the major opposition party against Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State after the court barred Amaechi’s All Progressives Congress (APC) from being on the ballot because of an internal struggle within the party.

Governorship and House of Assembly elections are yet to be concluded in the state.

Mr Wike, governorship candidate of the PDP, is seeking re-election for a second term. He has been facing a tough battle from APC and Amaechi, who is Wike’s political archrival.

The election battle most often gets bloody, leading to several people getting killed or injured.

Yeeh on Monday visited Wike at the Government House, Port Harcourt, to formally inform the governor that he was no longer a deputy governorship candidate of AAC.

“I officially announce the withdrawal of my candidacy for AAC. My loyalty is with PDP. I cannot afford to leave the fast lane and go to the slow lane,” a government house statement quoted Yeeh as telling Wike, in the presence of national chairman of PDP, Mr Uche Secondus.

Rivers state government has been gloating over the political development, circulating photos of Yeeh’s visit on Facebook and Twitter.

Wike said history would be kind to Yeeh for “placing Rivers interest above personal consideration”.

Apparently referring to Amaechi, the governor said the interest of one man cannot be bigger than the interest of the state.

“You are welcome to the party that will move the state forward,” the governor said.

“Those on the other side must understand that you cannot kill people, just to be in power. With this bold decision, our brothers on the other side know that the end has come,” he added.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suspended the electoral process in Rivers’ governorship and the House of Assembly elections because of violence and other irregularities.

INEC has said it would resume collation of results in the state from April 2 to April 5.

PT