Nwobodo, who however stated that his family members
have been active members of the APC despite his membership in the PDP declared his defection during an APC meeting convened by the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Dr. Jeffrey Onyeama.
According to him, his defection has become necessary
in order to move the state into the mainstream politics at the federal level as
well as contribute meaningfully to the nation at large adding that by the
position of south-east geopolitical zone in the nation, it cannot afford not to
be an active team-player in national issues and decision making in the country.
“I am not looking for a job. I am talking because I
want peace. I want our people to be part of the federal government at the
centre. I am not coming into APC because I want anything. I want our people to
be reintegrated and have our own share of the federal government resources,” Nwobodo
said.
At the same event, a former PDP chieftain in the state,
Senator Fidelis Okoro also defected to the APC. Welcoming the duo to the fold,
the APC State Chairman, Dr. Ben Nwoye enthusiastically assured that both new
and old members would be harmonized accordingly for progress of the party in
the state.
In similar vein, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, senatorial
candidate of the PDP representing Anambra Central Senatorial District on Friday
defected to the APC in Anambra state. Ekwunife recently lost her seat in the Senate
following the Appeal Court ruling at the instance of APGA’s candidate, Chief
Victor Umeh which nullified the decision of the Election Tribunal which earlier
upheld her election.
Hon. Justices A.D. Yahaya, T.O. Awoloye, and B.G. Sanga
of the Appellate Court sitting in Enugu ordered for a re-run on December 7, 2015,
based on paragraph 25 (1) of exhibit R1 Electoral Act, and emphatically stated under
the law, it is only the special state congress that is entitled to conduct primaries
for elections for National assembly elections. It consequently held that Ekwunife’s
nomination having not complied with the Act implied not duly nominated, and
ipso facto, amounts to naught, consequently nullified her election.
It would be recalled that Owelle Rochas Okorocha; the
governor of Imo state, Dr. Chris Ngige, minister of Labour and Employment and
Rev Fr. Mbaka among other notable personalities from the South-East
geographical zone stood firm in support of the APC, albeit strictly on
principles. Consequently, they were denigrated and their views were considered
anathema to the majority out of myopia despite admission to the monumental
failure of the past administration in addressing any national problem
substantially particularly in the south-east.
Unswervingly, they overwhelmingly surrendered supports
to the APC and as a team, successfully wrestled power, thereby terminated the
PDP 16 years wasteful years in government. While Fr. Mbaka's head was called
for in some quarters for his eloquence, Gov Rochas Okorocha's in another,
Ngige, of course faced all sorts of name calling due to the masses naivety,
subjectivity and illogical reasoning, but today, the reverse is the case. By the
present political repositioning in the country with APC now in the mainstream position,
it is logical to conclude that these few political actors are quintessentially
foresighted.
Emphatically, Okorocha implicitly did his political
arithmetic well, unlike the former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi who
either ignored it or did grievous miscalculation by dumping a solid platform
with viable structures that was delivered to him by Dim Ikemba Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu
of the blessed memory, on a platter of gold to join PDP. Eventually, PDP lost
out in the election few months after his defection. Prior to this, Mr Peter Obi
was the pillar of the party at both state and national levels, and specifically
the chairman, Board of trustees. Suffice to say that equity perhaps played out here;
the former governor somersaulted big-time due to inconsistency and miscalculation.
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