Dan Opara
No fewer than over 2,000 members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and many from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), have officially defected to the major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Amaimo Ward, Ikeduru LGA of Imo State.
Our reporter who monitored the event at the weekend observed that the defectors were made up of members of the political structures of APC bigwigs in Ikeduru LGA allegedly vacated the party that is led by the Deputy Governor, Prof Placid Njoku, an indigene of Amaimo Community.
According to news sources, the political tsunami was unconnected with an earlier statement credited to the National Secretary of PDP, Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu, that’s over 30,000 APC members have been warming up to join his party, PDP, in Imo State.
Receiving all the decampees, Owerri Zonal Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barr.Uche Igbokwe, commended them for taking the bold step, adding that their decision to dump their former political parties in solidarity for their son and National Secretary of PDP is an indication that he is widely loved across party lines.
He maintained that indications were rife that more members of the All Progressives Congress and other political parties were already in contact with PDP in the zone to complete all modalities before their formal cross-over.
Igbokwe, who is popularly known as “Onye Ishi Ala” therefore described their defections as timely and charged them to do everything possible to woo others into PDP with a view to boosting the party’s chances.
Speaking also, Chairman of PDP in Ikeduru LGA, Chief Geoffrey Ihemtuge, expressed delight that every responsible person in the state is currently thinking towards PDP, adding that the latest defection is a mark of a new beginning for Imolites.
Chairman of PDP in Amaimo Ward, Comrade Solomon Agham, did not hide his feelings that the long-awaited defection tsunami into PDP could start from his Ward, assuring the new entrants of adequate accommodation and protection.
He promised to work in synergy with members and party leaders to bring lasting solutions, and ensure that everybody remains on one page.
Comrade Agham further advised the defectors to be law-abiding as well as to be loyal to the party and stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to move the party forward. He reminded them they need to remain united owing to the fact that the new National Secretary of PDP is an Amaimo son.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Hon Ambrose Uche while tearing his APC membership card cursed the day they were deceitfully lured into the party, saying that they would do their best to take PDP to an enviable height.
Hon Uche, therefore, described his new party as the only hope for Imo state and challenged his co defectors to put in their best in the service of the state.
In their separate contributions, leaders of PDP in Ikeduru LGA, Dr. Osmond Ukanacho, Hon Bon Unachukwu, and Hon Dennis Okwu (Sweet Apple) commended the leadership of the party in Amaimo for presenting programmes that led to the tsunami.
The State Working Committee (SWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State was represented by the Woman Leader, Hon.Mrs Maria Mbakwe and the Youth Leader, Comr. Greg O.C Nwadike respectively.
