About 500 party bigwigs from mainly the People’s Democratic Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance and Labour Party in Ebonyi State with their followers numbering over 50,000 have formally dumped their parties for the All Progressives Congress, APC. The decampees comprised of former political office holders, various levels of aspirants and chieftains, including the former Senate President and Secretary to the government of the federation, Senator Anyim Pius and the Labour Party governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections in the State, Edward Nkwegu.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The decampees were received by the National APC chairman, Alhaji Umar Ganduje during the grand finale of Ebonyi Local government area elections campaign rally.
The event was held on Saturday at the Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.
Speaking at the event, the APC national chairman described the event as a commendable move towards the de-marginalization of Southeast in national politics.
He appreciated the Governor of Ebonyi state, Francis Nwifuru, for his leadership sagacity which has brought all political stakeholders together under one umbrella of peace, unity and development.
He also commended the chairman, Progressive Governor’s forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma for his untiring efforts in promoting APC in South East in particular and Nigeria in general.
Ganduje called on all political stakeholders and leaders in the Southeast to join and team up with the APC led federal government in order to maximize the gains of leadership in the zone.
He commended the former Senate President, Anyim, describing his decision to join the APC as germane for the interest of Southeast.
Governor Uzodimma in his remarks, reminisced the past political prominence of Ndigbo in Nigeria’s national politics and encouraged southeast political leaders to tow the path of recovery by aligning with the centre.
Governor Nwifuru while welcoming the decampees said the event marked a milestone in the anals of the history of the state.
He expressed pride in the characters of Anyim, Edon and other decampees assuring them that all would be treated equally in the state.
Others who spoke, including the State APC Chairman, Stanley Okoro Emegha, and the former Governor, now Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi further applauded Governor Nwifuru, attributing the stakeholders’ solidarity in the state to the Governor’s humility and candour.
Anyim, earlier in his speech, stated that his decision to join the APC was in response to Ebonyi People’s call and the widely celebrated goodwill of the Governor.
He noted that he consulted widely with other political stakeholders of the state before arriving at the decision which he said was for the best interest of the people of Ebonyi state and Southeast.