Mr. Chidi Lloyd, a loyalist of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Lloyd, who made headlines in 2013 when he struck a member of the Rivers state House of Assembly, Mr. Michael Chinda, with a mace during a leadership tussle inside the chambers of the Assembly reportedly parted ways with Amaechi.
Lloyd was received at the Rivers state Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday by Governor Nyesom Wike where he apologized for his role in the crisis that engulfed the Assembly.
On why he dumped the APC, he said, “my people have asked me to say to you that we will henceforth join hands with you in the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). Your Excellency, I thank God today that all the dramatis personae that were involved in that shameful conduct are alive. None was buried.
“Your Excellency, on behalf of myself and my people, I tender an unreserved apology for whatever actions that may have been ascribed to me. I am truly sorry for the pain which I may have caused my brother Michael Okechukwu Chinda.”
In his response Wike said: “In politics anything can happen. But that does not mean you should forget friendship. We must forget yesterday and put ourselves together as brothers against tomorrow.
“What he (Lloyd) did was what any politician who is committed and supportive of any course the person believes is to defend his interest and the interest of his people at that time.
“When I tool oath of office, I said any person who has committed any offence against me or I have committed against the person, forgive me and I have also forgiven you. Let everybody come back together as one.”
Wike was said to have played a role in convincing the former lawmaker to abandon the APC.
