No fewer than 2000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Aba North Local Government Area of Abia on Thursday defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu on behalf of the State Chairman of the party, Hon. Donatus Nwankpa and Chairman of Caretaker Committee of the APC , Gov. Mai Buni received the defectors in his countryhome Camp Neya, Igbere , Abia State.
Kalu urged them to work for the party’s victory in the 2023 general elections.
Addressing the crowd , he said “On behalf of ur state chairman; Chief Donatus Nwakpa, and our National chairman; the Governor of Yobe state, Gov. Mai Buni, I want to formerly welcome you people to APC and ask you people to be of good behaviour.
“We are disciplined party, we are party that encourages people to pay their salaries, to pay pensions, to take care of roads and to take care of the society. We have no other business than welfare of the people. Our business in APC is to think and work about the welfare of Nigerians, of Abians, of the imolites, of Enugu people, of Ebonyi people, of Anambra people and of all Nigerians that’s our job.
Speaking further, he said , “Today is a remarkable day and I want to welcome you to this great party, the party is a party for all Nigerians and we believe that this party will make all of us proud. The party is a party that believes in the rule of law. This is a party that believes things should be done well, this a party that believes in all Nigerians.
“Your defection to APC shows that this party is the best for the state and the country. We are growing stronger and stronger and our growth will be felt in the 2023 general elections.,” he added.
The APC House of Representative’s candidate for Aba North and South in the 2019 general election, Hon. Mascot Uzor Kalu also receiving the defectors commended the defectors for their decision, saying that the party’s doors were still open for more defectors.
Responding on behalf of the defectors, Hon. Bunch Adiele and Hon. Eze Agege apologized to the Senate Chief Whip and begged him to take them back to the party. They pledged to be law abiding and promised to deliver Aba to the APC in 2023.
Exact words: ” We are your sons and daughters residing and doing business in Aba North Local Government Area. We have realized our mistake and lost our political root. But today, the 7th of January, 2021, we are here to tell you we are sorry and fully back with you. Forgive us and take us back as your children.
“All the wards in Aba North Local Government are all represented here, before 25th of this month; the real Exodus will be seen as over 2,500 PDP faithful will move in to join APC with us.
We are resolute to return Aba North to APC. At least our efforts were felt during the last sham called local government election in Aba North. Today, we want to officially be accepted into APC to reunite with the father of politics in Abia State.
“Be informed that Aba in general is sick and tired of PDP non performance, tribalism, discrimination, imposition and corruption which resulted in non-payments of staff salaries, Abia State pensioners and workers are being owed over 18 months salary. With the way things are going in Abia State, APC will take over the state come 2023.” He said
