Awka – The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) says the defection of the deputy governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke to the All Progressives Congress (APC), is of no consequence.
On Wednesday, the Anambra Deputy Governor was received by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni at Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he was presented with the APC flag.
The defection which has been rumoured for over two weeks now, is eventually coming less than three weeks to the Anambra Governorship election slated for 6th of November, 2021.
Political watchers have described the Anambra second man’s defection as the last straw for the ruling APGA in Anambra, considering the massive defection by its lawmakers and key stakeholders in recent weeks.
But in a chat with our correspondent, the National Publicity Secretary of the APGA, Barrister Tex Okechukwu, acknowledged that the defection of the deputy governor was long expected since he had been grudging everybody over his inability to secure the governorship ticket of the party for the November election.
“The deputy governor had thought that the governor and the party were going to hand over the governorship ticket of the party in the last primary to him on a platter.
“When that didn’t happen, he started behaving abnormally, even to the point of insubordination and dereliction of duties,” the statement buttressed.
He viewed the exit of the deputy governor, without formal notification to the party or his principal, as uncalled for, ill-timed and ill-advised, saying the governor had always treated him with respect, love and consideration.
“The party frowns at the desperation being exhibited by the opposition APC in the build-up to the November 6 Anambra State Governorship Election.
“We call on all members of the party to remain united to ensure that APGA wins the election with wider margins,” Okechukwu said.
He continued; “Let nobody be deceived. APC has no roots anywhere in Anambra state and that is why all that they do is going about luring political deadwood with money and other lucres.”
He called on the State Governor, Willie Obiano not to be distracted by the defection of his deputy, which he described as “a ploy to create a semblance of disunity in his government”, but to remain resolute in delivering the dividends of democracy to his people.
“No matter the designs of the opposition and other subterranean forces, APGA is poised to win the forthcoming election and continue with the massive infrastructural development going on in the state,” he concluded.
