Loyalists of the immediate past governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, have defected from the People's Democratic Party in Abia State to the All Progressives Congress.
The defectors include the Chief of Staff to the former governor, Anthony Agbazuere; a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Eze Chikamnayo, from Umunneochi; a former commissioner representing Abia State in the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Chimezie Okoronkwo; former Commissioner for Public Utilities, Chief Eze Nwanganga; former commissioner in Abia State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, Chief Uzo Ihuka; former Commissioner for Environment, Chief Sam Nwogu, and a former chairman of ASOPADEC.
They abandoned their former party during an APC stakeholders’ meeting in Umunneochi, ahead of a zonal caucus meeting of the APC billed, for next week under the leadership of the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, and the National Welfare Secretary of the party, Hon. Donatus Nwankpa.
Their defection was announced during the APC stakeholders meeting which was convened at the instance of the minister in her country home, Isuochi, Abia State.
Other decampees include a stalwart of the PDP in Obingwa Local Government Area, Elder Godwin Nna, and some key members of the PDP from the 17 local government areas and three senatorial districts of the state.
However, APC National Welfare Secretary, Hon. Nwankpa said, “The coming of PDP members into the APC shows that Abians have started realising and embracing APC as the alternative party that they have to drive to create the necessary change that the state and its citizens yearn for.”