Nkem Okeke paid a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja after he defected from the APGA to the ruling APC on Wednesday.
The Anambra Deputy Governor was presented to the President by the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma.
Speaking with State House Correspondents, Uzodinma who is the chairman of the APC campaign council for the Anambra governorship election, confirmed that Okeke had joined the APC.
The Imo State Governor expressed optimism that the APC would win the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State because of what the President has done for the South-East zone.
He said, “All I know is that I am the Chairman of Anambra gubernatorial campaign council and I am working, doing my best to ensure that APC wins that election.”
“You recall that after the visit of the President to Imo State and his engagement with the leaders form South-East, a lot of things were exposed; the interventions of the Federal Government in the South-East like the progress report of the 2nd Niger Bridge, Portharcourt-Enugu Road, Onitsha-Enugu road and Owerri-Aba road.
“So the people of Anambra State who were also at that gathering have discovered the genuineness of the President and his policies as it concerns the Igbos and they have seen that it is only through national politics, which some of us have been advocates of, that the South-East will rapidly develop.
“Therefore, our people are now willing to join the winning team, which is the APC party. At the last count, eight members of the House of Representatives from APGA and PDP joined the APC.
“Just this afternoon, the Deputy Governor of Anambra State joined the APC and has been presented to the President. If there is any strong parameter for conducting an opinion poll, this exodus of legislators and the second-in-command in Anambra State, should automatically translate into electoral victory.”
Speaking on the claim by Governor Willie Obiano that APC was giving N100m to defectors from the other parties, Uzodimma said he would not want to “join issues” with the Anambra governor.
He said, “That means that APC is working. So, I don’t want to lament. In political programme, you can lobby people. And I don’t think APC has money to buy people.
“By the grace of God, the way we are going, I won’t be surprised if everybody in Anambra declares for APC before the election, including the governor.
“Well, if the governor wants to come and collect money, we will give it to him.”
In a statement on Wednesday night, APGA National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Tex Okechukwu revealed that Okeke dumped the party because he didn’t get the governorship ticket for the 2021 election in the state.
According to him, Okeke had thought that Governor Obiano and the party were going to hand over the governorship ticket of the party to him on a platter.
Okechukwu said, “The deputy governor had thought that the governor and the party were going to hand over the governorship ticket of the party in the last primary to him on a platter.
“When that didn’t happen he started behaving abnormally, even to the point of insubordination and dereliction of duties.”
He added that APC just received a political deadwood into their midst as Okeke has nothing significant to contribute in the forthcoming Anambra governorship polls.
APGA also claimed Okeke didn’t formally notify Governor Obiano or the party of his intention to switch allegiance to another party, adding that despite all these happenings, APGA will emerge victorious as the November 6 governorship polls.
He said, “Let nobody be deceived: APC has no root anywhere in Anambra State and that is why all that they do is going about luring political deadwood with money and other lucres.
“No matter the designs of the opposition and other subterranean forces, APGA Is poised to win the forthcoming election and continue with the massive infrastructural development going on in the state.”
KanyiDaily had earlier reported how Governor Obiano‘s convoy was held hostage by unknown gunmen at APGA campaign rally in Ihiala, Anambra State.
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