former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, over 500 political leaders in Ebonyi State with their followers numbering over 50,000 have formally joined the All Progressives Congress.
The defectors were mainly from the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party and All Progressives Grand Alliance.
They were made up of former political office holders, various levels of aspirants and chieftains, including the Labour Party governorship candidate in the 2023 general election in the state, Edward Nkwegu.
The defectors were received by the National Chairman of APC, Alhaji Umar Ganduje, during the grand finale of the Ebonyi State local government election campaign rally.
The event was held on Saturday at the Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
Speaking at the event, the APC National Chairman described the event as a commendable move towards the demarginalisation of the South East in national politics.
Ganduje appreciated the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, for his leadership sagacity, which he said has brought all political stakeholders together under one umbrella of peace, unity and development.
He also commended the Chairman, Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, for his untiring efforts in promoting APC in the South East in particular and Nigeria in general.
He called on all political stakeholders and leaders in the South East to team up with the APC-led Federal Government in order to maximise the gains of leadership in the zone.
He commended Anyim, describing his decision to join the APC as germane for the interest of the South East.
Governor Uzodimma reminisced the past political prominence of Ndigbo in Nigeria’s national politics and encouraged South East political leaders to tow the path of recovery by aligning with the centre.
Governor Nwifuru, while welcoming the decampees, said the event marked a milestone in the annals of the history of the state.
He expressed pride in the characters of Anyim, Edon and other decampees, assuring them that all would be treated equally in the state.
