Enugu State — The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State received a major boost as more than 500 members of opposition parties officially defected to its ranks during a political rally held in Aku, Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area.
The defectors, drawn from the Labour Party (LP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were formally welcomed into the APC by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji. He was joined by the APC State Chairman, Chief Ugochukwu Agballah, and other prominent party leaders.
This latest wave of defections adds to the growing momentum for the APC in Enugu, coming on the heels of recent defections by federal lawmakers who were previously elected under the LP platform. These lawmakers cited unresolved internal crises within their former party as their reason for switching allegiance. Similarly, several LP members in the Enugu State House of Assembly and the party’s 2023 governorship candidate, Chijioke Edeoga, had earlier decamped to the PDP.
Although Governor Peter Mbah has been rumored to be considering a move to the APC, he has publicly denied the claims. Nevertheless, political realignments continue to redefine the power dynamics in the state.
Speaking at the rally, Minister Nnaji attributed the APC’s growing acceptance in Enugu to the visible impact of federal projects under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He also criticized the PDP-led state government, accusing it of worsening economic conditions through what he described as excessive taxation policies.
“Today, Enugu ranks as the second most expensive city in Nigeria, despite being a civil service town. This reflects the economic quagmire the state is currently facing,” Nnaji said.
The Minister also praised Engr. Celestine Attah, a former House of Assembly candidate under APGA, for spearheading the mobilization of hundreds of defectors from APGA, LP, and PDP into the APC.
Nnaji expressed confidence that the APC is now strategically positioned to take over governance in Enugu by 2027, urging residents to support the party and back President Tinubu for a second term to attract more federal appointments and developmental projects to the state.
APC State Chairman Chief Ugochukwu Agballah echoed similar sentiments, thanking President Tinubu for the ongoing reconstruction of the Ninth Mile–Opi–Makurdi Road, now being upgraded to a dual carriageway, among other federal projects across the state.
With the surge in defections and the increasing visibility of federal initiatives, the APC appears poised to mount a strong challenge for control of Enugu State in the next general elections.
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