Former Senate President Pius Anyim, along with former gubernatorial candidates of opposition parties in Ebonyi, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday.
Anyim, formerly of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defected to the APC with some of his supporters during the grand finale of the APC campaign for the local government elections in Abakaliki.
Anyim, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), defected alongside a former Senator and PDP gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 general elections, Sen. Obinna Ogba and that of the Labour Party, Chief Edward Nkwegu.
Also, some former members of the National and State Assemblies and former local government chairmen, among others, all from the opposition, defected to the APC.
Anyim, in his remarks, said that Ebonyi had always been one political family, and the massive defection of opposition members to the party attested to such fact.
The former Senate President said his intention to join the APC had been hatched for a long time, as former Governor David Umahi remarked.
“The time I wanted this to happen, Umahi was not ready, and the time he liked it, it didn’t turn out the way we wanted.
“We, however, thank God that it has worked smoothly, as we are all presently under the same roof,” he said.
The former SGF said that the defection was not just about him but also about the Ebonyi people, as consultations were widely held before a final resolution was taken.
“We wanted to appreciate Gov. Francis Nwifuru’s great works in reconciling various political divides in the state and bringing them under one roof.
“We are aware of the enormous economic and sociocultural challenges confronting the country and the need to support President Bola Tinubu in surmounting the challenges patriotically.
“We intend to collaborate with all federal appointees from the state, especially the Minister of Works, Umahi, to support and step down President Tinubu’s life-uplifting policies to Ebonyi people,” he said.
The APC national chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, commended Gov. Nwifuru for sustaining his predecessor’s ideals of enlarging the APC in the state and the southeast geopolitical zone.
“The APC is presently de-marginalising the southeast zone by placing it in the mainstream of national politics.
“The ministerial among other appointments given by President Tinubu to indigenes of the zone, massive infrastructural development in the zone among others,, attests to this fact,” he said.
Gov. Francis Nwifuru commended the decampees for their bold decision to join the APC and assured them that they would be adequately accommodated in the party.
“I thank my predecessor and father, Sen. David Umahi, for laying this strong foundation for the party’s growth in Ebonyi and President Bola Tinubu for his fatherly support to us in all ramifications.
“Ebonyi will develop more rapidly when its leaders and people stay under one roof to actualise the people’s charter of needs mantra of the administration,”.
The minister of works, Sen. David Umahi, thanked President Tinubu for ensuring the party’s growth in the state and urged Nigerians to support him in making the country great.
Goodwill messages were delivered by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo and national officers of the APC, among others. (NAN)
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