More than 1,000
members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Action Congress
of Nigeria, (ACN) in Anambra State yesterday quit their parties to join
rival All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). The former PDP and ACN
members were welcomed during the official flagoff of APGA’s campaign
for the central senatorial zone of the state.
Austin Ndigwe, a
former state chairman of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) and
PDP chieftain who led the defectors, said they included all the ward
and women’s leaders of the PDP and ACN in Anambra State. He said that
the decision to switch parties came because of what they called the
success story of the Obi administration.
“We are joining
APGA today because of what our governor has done for the entire state.
We want to belong and to be identified with his success story.
Personally, I am also joining the party because of Dora Akunyili. I
will do anything within my power to see she goes to the Senate,” Mr.
Ndigwe said.
The national
chairman of the APGA, Victor Umeh, while welcoming the new members into
the party, said that there was no alternative party to APGA in the
state and urged the people to vote for the party to consolidate its
leadership in the state.
Mr. Umeh explained
that APGA adopted the country’s president, Goodluck Jonathan, as its
candidate because, according to him, his candidacy was divine, and he
urged Nigerians to support Mr. Jonathan as his winning the election
would further unify the country and remove all shackles of tribal and
religious sentiments.
In his speech, the
state governor, Peter Obi, charged the state’s electorate to vote in
credible and articulate candidates capable of giving the state quality
representation at the national and state assemblies.
“The era when politicians plundered the state is gone. We now have a
government committed to serving the interests of the people and not
politicians,” Mr. Obi said.
