A Third Republic politician, Hon. Sam Ighodo Erewari, has described the defection of Deputy Governor of Rivers, State of Engineer Tele Ikuru, to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is designed to be used as a propaganda tool to shore up the dwindling support base of the opposition party (PDP) in the state.

Erewari made the statement while exchanging views with journalists at the Port-Harcourt International Airport.

He described as a charade the plot by PDP to mislead unwary Rivers voters with what he called their cheap propaganda.

According to him, “the plan of the PDP is to arrange a gathering while Engineer Tele Ikuru, seated with hired persons who will pose as persons defecting with him, will give impression that his defection came with electoral value.

‘I have been told that the PDP is arranging a reception for the mole defector where some persons will be hired to sit with the deputy governor in such a way that he will introduce them as his followers to deceive the unsuspecting general public.”

Meanwhile, reactions continue to trail the defection.

Last night, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Davies Ikanya who hails from the same Andoni Local Government as Ikuru described Ikuru as an unreliable character who had oscillated among four governorship candidates without principles.

Also reacting, the Local Government Caretaker Chairman of Andoni, Hon Esuku Esuku said Ikuru defected because he did not secure the APC governorship ticket as planned with his uncle and benefactor, Prince Uche Secondus.

Hon Esuku is confident that the party will not lose sleep or falter as Ikuru’s electoral value in both the local government and indeed the state is inconsequential.

He called on party faithful to remain steadfast and turn out en masse to cast their votes for General Muhammadu Buhari and Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside on March 28 and April 2015 respectively.

•Photo shows Amaechi