Loyalists of the immediate past governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, on Monday dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Naija News learnt that their defection came less than three weeks after an alleged Abia State PDP caucus meeting held at the Umuobiakwa, Obingwa country home of Okezie Ikpeazu, which was rumoured to be part of the strategic plan of Ikpeazu and other PDP members to either reclaim their lost power in the state from the ruling Labour Party (LP) or to join the APC.
The defectors include, the Chief of Staff to the former governor, Anthony Agbazuere; a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Eze Chikamnayo, from Umunneochi; a former commissioner representing Abia State in the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Chimezie Okoronkwo; former Commissioner for Public Utilities, Chief Eze Nwanganga; former commissioner in Abia State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, Chief Uzo Ihuka; former Commissioner for Environment, Chief Sam Nwogu, and a former chairman of ASOPADEC.
Other decampees include, a stalwart of the PDP in Obingwa Local Government Area, Elder Godwin Nna, and some key members of the PDP from the 17 local government areas and three senatorial districts of the state.
The defectors dumped their party during an APC stakeholders’ meeting in Umunneochi, ahead of the party’s zonal caucus meeting scheduled for Tuesday, under the leadership of the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, and the National Welfare Secretary of the party, Hon. Donatus Nwankpa.
A source who spoke with Punch on the recent mass defection said some party members have suggested that the latest move would herald Ikpazu’s defection to APC.
The source said, “Though the camp of the immediate past governor has remained quiet over the mass defection of its members from the PDP, others have suggested that Agbazuere and others joining the APC would herald the long-anticipated defection of former Governor Ikpeazu to the APC.”
However, APC National Welfare Secretary, Hon. Nwankpa, in an interview with the aforementioned publication, said the former PDP stalwarts and Abians have realised that joining the APC was necessary to create the change the citizens are yearning for.
He said, “The coming of PDP members into the APC shows that Abians have started realising and embracing APC as the alternative party that they have to drive, not only their political ambitions, but to create the necessary change that the state and its citizens yearn for.
“It is just political realignment and reintegration. It is part of the political revolution. Their coming will further strengthen the APC. They assured that they are bringing value and followership. They said that they felt that they want to be part of the national grid; that they have a lot to offer and that they see APC as the party that has the solution to Abia problem. We are building up.”