Appointees of former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu have abandoned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and crossed over to the All Progressives Congress (APC), accentuating the spate of unabated defections that are rocking the erstwhile ruling party after losing the 2023 governorship election.
The high-profile defections happened on Monday, just ahead of a highly anticipated zonal caucus meeting of the APC scheduled for today (Tuesday), adding an interesting but different dimension to the silent supremacy battle within the party in Abia state.
According to reports, the defectors were received by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, and the national welfare secretary of the APC, Chief Donatus Nwankpa, as the former Abia PDP bigwigs made their grand entrance into the APC fold during a key stakeholders meeting convened at the Minister’s country home in Isuochi, Umunneochi L.G.A of the state.
This shift in allegiance was underscored by the presence of prominent figures such as the immediate past Chief of Staff to Governor Ikpeazu, Prof. A. C. B. Agbazuere; Barr. Eze Chikamnayo, former Information Commissioner; Chief Eze Nwanganga, former Commissioner of Public Utilities; Chief Sam Nwogu, former Commissioner for Environment.
Others were Elder Godwin Nna, former Commissioner for Commerce; Chief Uzor Ihuka, the former Commissioner representing Isiala-Ngwa North, Isiala-Ngwa South, and Osisioma local government areas on the board of Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC).
The notable defections were announced amid a charged atmosphere, indicating the readiness of the Abia APC to challenge the ruling Labour Party in 2027.
