With 2023 still two years behind, the political atmosphere in Abia State has already started changing following massive movement of members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) into the All Progressives Congress (APC).
More than 250 members of APGA in Obohia Ward, Ukwa East Local Government Area of the state were received by the APC at the APC Ukwa East Secretariat along Obehie/Azumini road, Obohia on Friday.
Receiving the defectors at a formal ceremony, the state APC Publicity Secretary, Comrade Benedict Godson, said the former APGA members who are the movers and shakers of their former party will make APC stronger in the move to liberate Abia from bad governance.
Godson said that there have been massive movement of both APGA and PDP members into APC of recent, but that the party is taking the COVID-19 directives of not gathering much people in one place seriously and has placed many formal declarations pending for now.
He announced that APGA Governorship Candidate in 2015 and 2019 Governorship election and former Managing Director of the defunct Diamond Bank, Dr. Alex Otti has joined the APC.
Godson also went on to announce that Hon. Ugochuckwu Allen Nwachukwu (PDP), former Chairman of Osisioma LGA, Hon. Luke Ukara Onyeani (APGA), the former member representing Arochukwu State constituency, in the Abia State House of Assembly and two times PDP Governorship aspirant, Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh have all joined APC.
He assured the incoming members that more of such moves that will shock Abia is in the pipeline and thanked them for coordinating themselves well by sending mainly their leaders to represent them at the formal declaration to join APC in accordance with the rule of Social Distancing directive on COVID-19.
Godson described Abia APC as the fastest growing chapter of a political party in the country and stressed that it will take over the entire three Senatorial Zones of the State, the House of Representatives, State Assembly and even down to Counsellorship come 2023.
“We’re receiving people systematically right now because of COVID-19. I want to make it very open to you, we have vacancies all over. You’re all welcome. Don’t be afraid because this is a good move.
“We’re not surprised that you people are in APC today. APC is a moving train. It’s like a church, we receive everybody. It’s an open place. As you came in, you’ll get whatever is due to you whether you’re new or old,” he said briefly.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Engineer Brown Azubuike said they have decided to join APC due to too many things that have made them shade tears.
He said, “We’re meant to know that democracy is the Government of the people, by the people and for the people, but today, there’s no dividends of democracy felt anywhere in Abia State.
“Things like this made us to leave PDP to go to APGA to fight against such, but it’s obvious that APGA couldn’t make it because APGA is an orphan. Upon all their efforts, it was not felt. But with the strength of APC at the Federal level and through the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari things have started taking shape.
“Personally I’m not here to drag local position with anybody in my ward. I’m here because what’s happening in our state is making me cry. Too many things are denied my local government and too many things are lacking in my community. We’re here to fight injustice and stop the rubbish in our state and there’s no party that can do it better than APC.
“I assure you that as things normalize considering what we’re facing generally, APGA will come like a Wagon Train to join APC. We’re not joining because the head and tail have joined. We’re joining to fight injustice in Abia. If we want to receive the dividends of democracy, let’s work for APC”
Adding his voice on behalf of the defectors, Mr. Jombo Davies thanked the APC leadership and said, “Unity is strength. We’re speaking on behalf of over 250 members. We’re here because we’re convinced.
“We’ve seen policies of APC like N’Power that is helping Nigerians in so many ways. Go out there you’ll see people receiving all manner of financial assistants from Federal Government which wasn’t so prior to this regime.
“So, there’s greater opportunity in APC. I assure you that we’ll work hard to ensure that no shame will come our ways.”
The occasion was attended by APC Secretary in Abia South, Hon. Joe Nwachukwu, Chief George Nwancha, former Abia APC Deputy Chairman, Hon. Ernest Sunday, Ukwa East APC Chairman, Chief William Nwanguma, Obohia Ward Chairman, Chief Ugochuckwu Ndubuisi and other stakeholders.
