Loyalists of the former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim have said they dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) because of the inability of the opposition party to jettison zoning during the 2023 general election.
The loyalists who defected to the APC yesterday at the Ivo local government area headquarters included a former two-term House of Representatives member, Hon. Livinus Makwe, a former two-term House of Assembly member, Hon. Oliver Osi, and a former special assistant to governor David Umahi and deputy governorships candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections in the state, Hon Aja Nwabueze and thousands of their supporters.
On behalf of the decampees, Makwe expressed displeasure over the treatment meted on members of the PDP during the last general election by the leadership of the party adding that they were coming into the APC to strengthen and add value to the party.
He said they were attracted to APC because of Governor Nwifuru’s style of leadership, which they argued has united the state.
Others who defected to the ruling party include leaders and members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), National Rescue Movement (NRM) and other opposition parties in the local government.
Receiving the defectors, the APC state chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, and Ivo local government area, chairman, Chief Emmanuel Ajah assured them that the party will give a level playing ground for all adding that there won’t be any segregation and favoritism between the old and new members.
“Government is a big institution and APC is large enough to accommodate everyone. We are one big family, we are united. We will give you your dues in the party, and we will carry you along in everything we do,” Ajah stated.
“There won’t be any segregation, we are going to give equal opportunity to everyone to strive in the party. We are all equal members of the party, we must carry everyone along in all our activities,” he said.
