The Rivers State Deputy Governorship Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Christopher Udume, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring support for the re-election bid of Governor Nyesom Wike.

Mr Udume defected with 98 percent of the SDP Executive Committee and some party chairmen from the Local Government Areas.

Speaking during a defection meeting at the PDP Campaign Office in the state on Thursday in Port Harcourt, Udume said they were defecting to the PDP to assist Governor Wike to secure his re-election.

He said: “On behalf of myself and supporters of the SDP, we wish to join the PDP. We are bold to say that you deserve to continue with your good works.

“We are here to say, re-elect Wike again. Your great works are there for all to see and we are therefore committed to ensuring that you get a second term”.

He stated that the new PDP entrants will work with Senator-elect for Rivers South-east, Bari Mpigi to ensure the total success of the party.

State Publicity Secretary of SDP, Inime Righteous, said that the party has come to identify with a success story.

He said that they are motivated because evidence abounds on the achievements of the Governor.

Financial Secretary of the SDP, Adol Ibeka, noted that the leadership of SDP has moved specifically to deliver Governor Wike during the 2019 Governorship election.

While the Secretary of SDP, Cotterell Tumbodiaa, said that the second term of the governor is guaranteed.

The state governor in his response said his re-election has been secured by God and the good people of Rivers State.

He said with the defection of the SDP Deputy Governorship Candidate of SDP, the party no longer has a Governorship Candidate because of the constitutional requirement for election.

“God in his infinite mercies has given us victory. Nobody born of a woman can stop us from victory. It doesn’t matter the gunboats or armoured personnel carriers, God is with us.

“Anybody can plan against us, but you are planning against God. I cannot be afraid of any man because He who is with us, is greater than them “, he said.

“All the schemes against elections in Rivers State will fail because the state is PDP”.

Governor Wike thanked the former leaders of SDP in Rivers State for committing to peaceful elections in Rivers State.

He urged other leaders to abandon negative destructive tendencies and join in the development of the State.

•Sourced from a Channels TV report

• Rivers State Governor Wike receiving Rivers State Deputy Governorship Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Christopher Udume