By Magnus Aluma, Abakaliki
It seems to be a harvest of receptions for the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Ebonyi State, as the party recently flagged off its campaign for the Senatorial Bye-Election at Afikpo in Ebonyi South Senatorial District.
NewsBits can authoritatively report that the list of the defectors is chiefly dominated by members of the Labour Party, (LP,) People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) and Action Alliance (AA), including other opposition parties.
The Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Princess Patricia Obila told a mammoth crowd during the official flag-off of the Ebonyi South Senatorial Campaign Rally at Afikpo Council mini stadium, that over three million members of various opposition parties in the state have defected to the APC since the campaign began.
She noted that the campaign manifesto of the State Governor, Francis Nwifuru anchored on the People’s Charter of Needs has begun to yield positive results in Afikpo and Ebonyi South Zone by extension.
According to her, “the commitment of Governor Nwifuru’s administration to addressing the plights of the Ebonyi people led to the defection of over 3 million members of the opposition parties to the APC during the ward campaign trains in the southern part of the state.”
Erstwhile chairman of the Afikpo Local Government Area and Labour Party candidate for Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency in 2023, Tony Ekoh, and Labour Party’s candidate for Afikpo North East State’s Constituency, Ogbonnia Inya, were among the defectors.
Even at that, tongues have been wagging as to how the Deputy Governor came about her purported “3 million decampees,” as it is obvious that the total population of Ebonyi State falls below the figure. Speaking on behalf of the decampees, Ekoh said, “these people who went on leave but have decided to come back to our great party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, to join hands with Governor Francis Nwifuru to develop the state.”
Ekoh boasted that APC would win the bye-election in the Local Govetnment convincingly, even in the presence of the APGA candidate for the election, Chief Ifeanyi Eleje who also hails from the area.
Receiving the defectors, Ebonyi State chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Stanley Okoro-Emegha, assured them of complete accommodation in the affairs of the party, adding that they should work for the victory of the party in the coming Senatorial bye-election.
“We want to assure you total accommodation in our great party, APC. I therefore, urge you to work hard and ensure that our party emerges victorious in the Senatorial Bye-Election,” he emphasised. Addressing the decampees, the state Governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru expressed happiness with their decision to join the APC which he described as a moving train.
The Governor Nwifuru said he was confident that the senatorial candidate of the party, Professor Anthony Ani would win a landslide. “I am not perturbed about what will be the outcome of the election, because I have confidence in our candidate for the election. The APC Senatorial candidate, Professor Anthony Ani would have a landslide victory,” Nwifuru stressed.
The Governor advised Professor Ani to shun crisis when he gets to the senate, adding that he should build on the legacies of those who have served the zone in that capacity before him. He said, “don’t take us for granted when you get to the senate. We wronged so many leaders by choosing you.
“Don’t sleep in anybody’s house, you are a senator of Ebonyi South, not anybody. Work with everyone and ensure effective representation for the zone.” Governor Nwifuru further urged the people of Afikpo, to come out enmass and vote for the APC on Saturday, and said the exercise is going to be peaceful, fair and credible.
