From Kelechi Nwoba
At least, 2,000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP have been wooed by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in Ebonyi State.
The over 2,000 PDP members were active supporters of the former Chairman of Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Hon. Chief Maxwell Nwali.
Nwali has been reportedly led the 2,000 defectors including the past political officeholders from the PDP to the ruling APC in the state.
Recall that Chief Nwali was equally the Special Adviser to former Governor Sam Ominyi Egwu on Youths and Sports Development in Ebonyi State.
He formally defected to the ruling party at the Ikwo Council headquarters, Onuebonyi Achara, on Friday, 11th November 2022.
Also among the defectors was Engr. Emeka Orede, the former Supervisory Councilor and until his defection the Leader of the PDP Youths Vanguard, Ikwo LGA Chapter.
Chief Nwali stated that the reason for his defection alongside supporters was disillusionment with the PDP.
He regretted how the PDP umbrella had been torn and despite efforts to salvage the situation, it only became a mess.
He said that their defection to the APC was in a proposal to sweep out the PDP in the state come 2023 polls.
He disclosed that several other key stakeholders of the PDP in Ikwo LGA have confided in him to join him in the APC soon.
Nwali and his group expressed great gratification with the leadership of the APC and said that for once in the last few years they felt it have made the right political decision.
Receiving the defectors into the APC family, the Chairman of the party in Ikwo LGA, Hon. Sunday Onuzu stated that the party was happy to receive them, even as it leaves its doors open to receive more decampees from the opposition parties.
The Ebonyi State Assistant Secretary of APC, Hon. Sunday Nwafor equally embraced the defectors, recognising their exceptional wisdom in joining the best party in the Nation.
The Executive Chairman of Ikwo LGA, Barr. Sunday Nwankwo, while receiving them, noted that they were back to their natural home. Recognizing the contributions of Chief Nwali to the development of Ikwo LGA and Ebonyi State, he joyfully welcomed him and his colleagues to the ruling party and urged them to continue to contribute their quota towards societal development. He asked party members to avoid making distinctions between old and new members.
In his words: "Let no one go about creating divisions in our ranks. Already we have seen that the APC has taken over in Ikwo LGA and we no longer have opposition, but we must remain focused and resolute and continue to welcome new members who are formally joining APC. We must endeavour to work together and reap the fruits of our labour together. His Excellency our governor will soon begin the appointment of liaison officers and there will be no demarcation between old and new.
"The message I bring to you from the leader of our great party in Ebonyi State, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr Chief David Nweze Umahi, FNSE, FNATE, CON and his deputy Barr. (Chief) Eric Kelechi Igwe, PhD is that our party remains strong and in control. All you need to do is to continue to key into all the policies and programmes of the State.
"Ikwo is for APC. We will support APC at the National, State and Local levels. We are certain that we will achieve 100 per cent success in the forthcoming General elections."
