Former Minister of State for Transportation Prince John Emeka and ex-Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly Rita Maduagwu have dumped their parties to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The former minister was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while the ex-speaker was a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Also, ex-governor Peter Obi’s brother, Chief Chris Chikwelu, a member of the PDP state executive, has defected to the APC with a former governorship aspirant in the party in the last primaries, Chief Chuma Nzeribe.
The Nation learnt yesterday that in the next few days, four members of the National Assembly will dump their parties for the APC.
Four local government area executives from ward to local government areas of the PDP, at the weekend, collapsed their structures into the APC.
They are Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Ayamelum and Anambra East, including the Hausa and Yoruba communities in Onitsha South Council Area.
Receiving the defectors from the four local governments at Senator Joy Emodi’s house at the weekend, the state Chairman of the APC, Chief Basil Ejidike, told them that APC was the way. He described other parties as cults.
“We are not going to leave anything undone in winning the Anambra governorship election because the state is the Southeast engine,” Ejidike said.
Emodi said Ndigbo must connect to the centre, adding that that was why she joined the APC.
“I said before that I was done with politics, but today, I’m out. I’m now a full-fledged member of the APC.
“This is the time for the Igbo to join politics at the centre. We should join hands to make Nigeria great and there is no other way to do it than to join hands with the party at the centre.
“I don’t have fear in APC winning the November 6 governorship election. By the grace of God, with the quality of politicians from different parties joining the fray, it will happen,” she said.
The local government areas were led by Chief Chuks Onyeizugbe of Onitsha South PDP, while Zubairu Tijani led Hausa and Yoruba members from the APGA and PDP.
Addressing the defectors, the elated governorship candidate of the APC, Senator Andy Uba, said the party would win the coming election without rigging as being speculated.
He said APC would run issue-based campaigns to win the election, adding that what happened at Ekwulobia Stadium gave him hope that the party was on ground.
Uba led the former minister and ex-PDP Southeast zonal secretary, among others, to the palace of Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Achebe, who gave him and his team royal blessings.
Achebe hailed Uba, describing him as a selfless leader.
He enjoined parties involved in the governorship election to avoid campaigns of violence.
