By Perez Brisibe & By Samuel Oyadongha

UGHELLI—Delta State chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Jones Erue, yesterday, dismissed reports of a crisis in the state chapter of the party.

Erue who addressing newsmen in Ughelli, Delta State at the end of a closed door meeting of the party at the residence of an APC chieftain in the state, Olorogun Jaro Egbo, stressed that the party was strong and more strengthened with the caliber and character of persons defecting to the party in recent times.

He said: “We do not have any crisis in the party here in Delta State. If someone is creating one, we will meet at the fact finding panel visiting the state soon. We are waiting for them as the facts on ground would speak for themselves at the end of the panel’s sitting.

“I think the problem we have in the party is that people want the party to be a portfolio party. They are scared of the caliber and character of people defecting to the party. As it stands today, the party is strong,” he added.

…as Sen Paulker insists, I remain in PDP

Meanwhile, the Senator representing Bayelsa Central at the National Assembly, Senator Emmanuel Paulker, has said that despite the mass defection of prominent members of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in the state to the All Progressive Congress, APC, he remains committed to the party.

He said though the same scenario of mass defection played out at the national level which led to the defeat of the party at the centre, “consultations are ongoing to lure back those that left the party.”

Senator Paulker in an interview in Yenagoa, said: “As a politician, definitely I am not comfortable especially as regard the kind of people that left my party, the PDP. I am not comfortable especially if you are bitten by a snake, you will jump when you see a lizard cross your path.

“I am saying this because of my knowledge of what happened to us (PDP) at the centre which began with the exit of some key members and it took us quite some time to get ourselves together. And before we got ourselves back, election was just around the corner and you all know what happened, it is all history now. You know that Bayelsa is a PDP state, very efforts would be put in place where so that these people will come back to the party.”

On his alleged governorship ambition, he said though there was clamour by his constituents for him to run for the governorship of the state, he was still consulting with stakeholders and will make his position known to Bayelsans soon.