From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
At least 150 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State, strengthening the opposition party.
Prominent defectors include Peter Okonkwo, former Commissioner for Local Government; Nonso Ochi, LP’s 2023 Awgu North candidate; Onyeka Chukwuedo, PDP Awgu South aspirant; Chief John Edeh, PDP Nkanu West aspirant; Chief Tony Chigbo, former Uzo-Uwani LGA Chairman; and Emeka Abba, LP chieftain from Udenu.
The defectors were welcomed during an expanded stakeholders’ meeting at the APC’s state secretariat on Saturday. A communiqué stated, “The leaders note with excitement that our party has witnessed significant growth with the influx of new members in the last year. The number of new decampees that we received today is evidence of such an influx across the local government areas and wards.”
Stakeholders endorsed the indefinite suspension of Senator Chuka Utazi by his Nkpologu ward and Uzo-Uwani LGA for alleged anti-party activities, urging the State Executive Committee to ratify it.
They accused the Peter Mbah-led government of failing to address killings in Uzo-Uwani and Isi-Uzo, stating, “The party declared that the Peter Mbah-led government has failed in its primary duty of protecting lives and property… the huge population of the citizens in the rural areas are left at the mercy of killer herdsmen and other criminals.”
The APC praised Minister Uche Nnaji for securing federal projects, jobs, and welfare packages, including Easter rice and 2024 farming fertilisers. They dismissed former chairman Ben Nwoye’s resignation, noting: “One cannot be resigning from a party that he or she is no longer a member of since 2023.”
The meeting reaffirmed loyalty to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, urging Igbo support.