Ebonyi State: Former Senate President, Ayim, Finally Dumps PDP For APC
From OMAKA OKOH (Abakaliki)
After many months of speculation, former Senate President, Pius Anyim, has officially defected to All Progress Congresses (APC).
Ebonyi LP governorship candidate in the 2023 election, Edward Nkwegu, has also dumped party for APC.
The former Secretary to the government of the federation, defected with over 50, 000 political leaders and followers in Ebonyi state.
The defectors mainly of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) comprised of former political office holders, various levels of aspirants and chieftains.
The defectors were received at the at the grand finale of Ebonyi local government elections campaign rally held at Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State by APC chairman, Alhaji Umar Ganduje.
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 ended 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 South -East 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 South-East.
Governor Uzodimma in his remarks, reminisced the past political prominence of Ndigbo in Nigeria’s national politics and encouraged south-East political leaders to tow the path of recovery by aligning with the centre.
Governor Nwifuru,.while welcoming the defectors, said the event marked a milestone in the anals of the history of the state, expressing pride in the characters of Anyim, Edon and other defectors and assured them that all would be treated equally in the state.
Others who spoke, including the State APC Chairman 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.
