On Saturday, Anyim Pius Anyim, the former Senate President, led a significant number of Labour Party (LP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Ebonyi State to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The defection occurred during the Grand Finale of the APC local government election campaign at Pa Oruta Ngele Township in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State.
Among those who joined the APC with Anyim were former state and National Assembly members from the opposition parties. Notable figures included Edwin Nkwegu, a former Labour Party gubernatorial candidate, Senator Obinna Ọgba, and various former national and state assembly candidates, along with thousands of supporters. They officially declared their membership in the APC at the event.
The reception committee featured prominent APC members such as the National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje; Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State; Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State; Minister of Works, David Umahi; State Chairman of APC, Stanley Meghan; and other party leaders.
In his speech, Minister Umahi commended Anyim for his support during the 2023 elections and expressed his gratitude for Anyim’s official entry into the APC. He also thanked President Bola Tinubu for his assistance during legal challenges faced after joining the party. Umahi recounted, “President Tinubu called me to come and see him, and when I came, he carried me in his car personally to meet a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who handled our case.”
Umahi also noted the growing acceptance of the APC in the Southeast, mentioning ongoing infrastructure projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road that passes through Ebonyi. He called on regional leaders to integrate stakeholders into the party to enhance the Southeast’s political influence nationally.
Governor Uzodinma welcomed the recent Supreme Court decision as a victory for democracy and advised youth to avoid protesting against President Tinubu’s government. In his remarks, Anyim assured APC leaders of Ebonyi State’s unified support, attributing this unity to Governor Nwifuru’s leadership and reconciliation efforts.
The event highlighted Anyim’s significant defection and emphasized the expanding influence of the APC in Ebonyi State and the Southeast region.