National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr Ejimofor Opara, has stated that it was not surprising that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governor of Enugu, Mr. Peter Mbah, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to Opara, the defection of PDP members in the South East was expected due to the internal wranglings within the party from top to bottom. Speaking to reporters in Awka on Thursday, he said that the collapse of the PDP in the South East does not signify a loss of APGA’s stronghold in Anambra.
He further dismissed fears that Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra might defect to another party following Governor Mbah’s move to APC, calling such concerns “inordinate and unlikely.”
Opara urged the people of Anambra State not to worry, reassuring them that Soludo is firmly committed to APGA.
“It did not come as a surprise that the PDP in the South East met this fate given the internal conflicts within the party,” he said.
“For us in APGA, this is a movement that has produced three consecutive governors and will produce more in the near future. In Anambra State, the only party that has consistently maintained its stronghold is APGA—no other party can claim that.”he stated.
Opara described claims of APGA losing ground in Anambra as a recurring chant by a struggling opposition that relies on falsehoods for comfort.
“What else can you expect from the opposition at a time like this? Their stock-in-trade is falsehood. Make no mistake—they will ultimately fail, and APGA will always triumph,”
“We will not be distracted by the rantings of a very small fraction of the opposition, nor will we be intimidated by their antics,” he added.
Opara also reminded the public that both APGA and APC are progressive parties that have resolved to collaborate, making it unnecessary for Governor Soludo to leave APGA.
He dismissed the boast by APC’s gubernatorial candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, who claimed he would take Anambra State for APC, calling it mere daydreaming.
“Ukachukwu should wake up from his daydreams. Even within his party, there is a suspected cold war between his supporters and those of his running mate, Senator Uche Ekwunife, alongside other unresolved issues stemming from their primary elections,”
“He is merely participating, not genuinely contesting. The recent by-elections demonstrated this, as both he and his senatorial candidate failed to win in their electoral wards.”
“The mock elections clearly exposed the hollowness of Ukachukwu’s claims and have set the tone for the November 8th gubernatorial election in Anambra State,” he said.
