Chief Emmanuel Aja, Chairman of Ivo Local Government Area addressing the audience at the defection rally @ Isiaka, headquarters of Ivo LGA.
Chief Livinus Makwe, former member of the Federal House of Representatives has decamped from his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Makwe who represented the people of Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency in Ebonyi state between 2019 and 2023 could not secure a return ticket from his former party, the PDP.
Similarly, Chief Nwabueze Aja, a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) and deputy governorship candidate of the party in the 2023 general elections has dumped his party for the APC.
The decampees were received into APC by Chief Stanley Okoro-Emegha, the party’s state chairman during a rally on Saturday, March 30 held at Isiaka, headquarters of Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi.
The two former chieftains of the PDP and LP respectively who decamped alongside hundreds of their supporters said that they were motivated to join the APC due to the good works of the Gov. Francis Nwifuru-led APC government.
They noted in their separate speeches that joining APC would enable them join hands with the governor to fast track development in the state.
The former reps member thanked the state party chairman for bringing the entire State Working Committee (SWC) of the party to Ivo to welcome them into the fold and also commended Nwifuru for endorsing their movement into the APC.
“I want to let you know that after 2023 general elections that we took stocks of what happened; and since 1999, we have all been in one party so to speak in Ebonyi.
“It was only in 2021 that APC was birthed in the state with the defection of our former governor, Chief Dave Umahi and some of us because of political exigencies then did not join him but, after the 2023 elections, we had cause to rethink and look at issues differently.
“We saw from the performances of the party both at the centre and in our state, that those things that we were fearing were actually mirages that APC is actually a good party.
“This is a party that respects the wishes of the members; this is a party that believes in zoning, my party then, PDP refused to zone positions at the Federal level and even at the state level but, APC zoned positions at the federal and state levels and respects the wishes of the members.
“That is why we are joining the party today, we have already left the party since after the national assembly and presidential elections in February 2023 because during the governorship election in March, we all voted APC candidate,” Makwe said.
Makwe dumped the PDP with Dr Oliver Osi, former House of Assembly member and PDP deputy governorship candidate alongside a host of his supporters.
In his own remark, Aja, deputy governorship candidate of the LP said in 2023 said he decided to dump his former party due to the good works of the governor and his drive to ensure that peace and development gained roots in all parts of the state.
“With all that we have seen the governor do, we have come join hands with the governor to move Ebonyi to the next level,” Aja said.
Meanwhile, Okoro-Emegha who officially received the decampees emphasised that they would enjoy all rights and privileges due to every card-carrying member of the party not minding the the time they joined the party.
“We urge you to bring wealth of experience to add value to the party and work for the greater good of APC in Ebonyi,” he said.
Chief Emmanuel Aja, Chairman of Ivo LGA in a brief speech urged the new entrants to work for the greater interest of the party saying that the peaceful disposition of the governor had led to ensuring the reign of peace and security in Ivo LGA and Ebonyi at large. ENDS//
