Shock As ‎Nwobodo, Ekwunife, Other Igbo PDP Leaders Defect To APC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South East today lost its top leaders in Enugu and Anambra states to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).‎ The defectors are Senator Jim Nwobodo, the first executive governor of old Anambra State and Senator Fidelis Okoro, a Senator between 1999 and 2007, as well as Senator Uche Ekwunife.

They declared for APC at the Enugu state APC stakeholders meeting convened by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jeffrey Onyeama. The high profile defection has raised questions about the motive of the decampees especially coming at a time when Nwobodo has just been named by former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki as one of the beneficiaries of the $2.1billion arms fund shared among PDP leaders to promote the re-election of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is currently investigating all beneficiaries of the loot but Nwobodo had denied any wrongdoing, saying that the N500 million released to him by the former NSA was meant for PDP leaders in the South-East to drum support for the re-election of former President Jonathan in the 2015 election.

The minister, members and other APC stakeholders who were attending the meeting could not hide their surprise on the sudden appearance of the PDP leaders at the meeting.

Making his declaration speech, Nwobodo urged members of the APC in Enugu State not to be deterred by the electoral losses they have suffered in the state in the past. According to him “You must not always lose. What matters is the ability to rise again. I must condemn our former party, PDP. I know we had problems. I told our former chairman, how come did we allow five governors to leave the party?

“I am not looking for a job. I am talking because I want peace. I want our people to be part of the Federal Government at the centre. I had a problem being an opposition governor. I am not coming into APC because I want anything. I want our people to reintegrate and have our own share of the Federal Government resources.”

Nwobodo recalled that while he was in PDP, his wife had always been an active member of the APC, just as he pointed out that the slogan “change” did not start now but started in 1983 when he was an opposition governor.

Earlier, a founding member of APC in Enugu State and former Secretary to State Government, Onyemuche Nnamani reminded the party of the need to keep a tab on its members, stressing that those who worked for the party’s success must be recognized.

“We recognize our old members and open door for new ones. Peace essentially is guarded by justice. Without justice, we have peace of the graveyard. Those who don’t cherish peace are those who have not tasted the other side. Please, let us do justice. Let us carry everybody along,” Nnamani said.

Other top APC stalwarts at the meeting include the State Secretary, Major General Chris Eze (rtd), Brigadier General Joseph Okoloagu (rtd.), Deputy Chairman, Adolphus Ude, Publicity Secretary, Kate Ofor, Okey Ezea, Peter Okonkwo and the National Vice Chairman South-East, Emma Eneukwu.

In a related development, a prominent PDP leader in Anambra state, Senator Uche Ekwunife has also dumped PDP ahead of the forthcoming Anambra Central Senatorial election.

Ekwunife whose election as the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District was nullified by the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu last December is defecting to APC to contest the fresh election ordered by the court for the zone after it was obvious that the PDP was not giving him an automatic ticket for the election.

The State Chairman of the PDP, Prince Ken Emeakayi had on Monday declared that the National Working Committee of the party had scheduled congresses to address the issue raised by the judgment of the Court of Appeal regarding the nomination of the party’s candidate for the election.

He said there was no automatic ticket for Ekwunife whose election was nullified, saying, “Though Senator Uche Ekwunife has the right of offer of first refusal which can only be rejected or ratified by the Senatorial congress; this is without prejudice to the right of any other member of our great party from Anambra Central Senatorial District to present himself/herself to contest and participate in the exercise.”

Also, the party postponed the planned congresses scheduled for tomorrow, following the arrest and detention of the National Publicity Secretary of the party and its leader in the South-East, Chief Olisa Metuh by the EFCC.

Also Ekwunife’s rival, and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate in the election, Chief Victor Umeh whose petition nullified Ekwunife’s election, petitioned INEC to stop Ekwunife and PDP from participating in the fresh election.

Umeh had said that, “The Court of Appeal in its December7, 2015 judgment said, The 11th respondent (Ekwunife) was not the product of a valid primary and was therefore not duly and legitimately nominated. That has disqualified her from contesting the election into the Anambra Central Senatorial District. The court also noted that, nomination is part and parcel of qualification to stand for an election.”

In a swift move to counter the plot against her, Ekwunife who would make a formal defection declaration tomorrow, said it was better for her to move now to APC to contest the election so she can return to the Senate.

Her words, “It’s better now for me to join the APC. Let the heat be there. I’m already on campaigns for my return to the senate, to complete my contract with the people of Anambra Central district. I will officially announce my defection to my constituents tomorrow, (Saturday) at my campaign office, in Awka.”

Findings reveal that all PDP flags were already being removed and the walls changed to APC colours at her campaign office along Enugu – Onitsha expressway in Awka.