Their defection ceremony took place during the Grand Finale of the APC local government election campaign at Pa Oruta Ngele Township in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.
Anyim Pius Anyim, former President of the Senate, on Saturday alongside numerous top members of the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Their defection ceremony took place during the Grand Finale of the APC local government election campaign at Pa Oruta Ngele Township in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.
Some Labour Party and PDP top members who joined the APC with Anyim were former state and National Assembly members of the opposition political parties including former Labour Party gubernatorial candidate in the state, Edwin Nkwegu, Senator Obinna Ọgba, former national and state assembly candidates, and thousands of supporters.
They all formally joined the APC at the event.
The reception committee included key APC figures including the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, Minister of Works, David Umahi, State Chairman of APC, Stanley Meghan, and other party leaders.
During his speech, the Minister of Works, Umahi praised Anyim for his support during the 2023 elections, emphasizing the appropriateness of his official entry into the APC.
Umahi expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his support during legal challenges faced after joining the party, recounting how Tinubu personally assisted him.
He said, “President Tinubu called me to come and see him, and when I came, he carried me in his car personally to meet a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who handled our case.”
Umahi highlighted the growing acceptance of the APC in the Southeast, noting ongoing infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road passing through Ebonyi.
He called for increased efforts by regional leaders to integrate stakeholders into the party, asserting that this would elevate the Southeast's political standing nationally.
Governor Uzodinma welcomed the recent Supreme Court decision as a boost for democracy and urged youth to refrain from protesting against President Tinubu's government.
Anyim, in his remarks, assured APC leaders of Ebonyi State's unified support, attributing this to Governor Nwifuru's governance and reconciliation efforts.
Overall, the event underscored Anyim's significant defection and highlighted the APC's expanding influence in Ebonyi State and the Southeast region.