The membership rank of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra State has continued to swell as key and critical stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Anaocha Local Government Area of the state have dumped it for the ruling party, APGA.
These stakeholders, led by a former presidential aide/campaign strategist, Chief Ugochukwu Adilieje, were received into APGA at the weekend by the State Chairman of the party, Mr. Ifeatu Obi-Okoye.
They blamed persistent instability and internal wranglings for their departure, which they disclosed may persist in the PDP.
Receiving them formally at the APGA Secretariat in Awka, the state capital, Obi-Okoye commended them for “returning home” to join a moving train.
He said that APGA was set to retire some generations of politicians in the state, especially in the Anaocha Council area.
Obi-Okoye described Chief Adilieje, other stakeholders, and their teeming supporters’ decision to join APGA as wise and noble, saying it would boost the good works of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo in the state.
He told them that they were in the right party, noting that Soludo was, at one time, a PDP governorship candidate and that the Special Adviser to Gov. Soludo on Political Matters, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, used to be ‘Oganiru PDP.’
He added that he, himself, was a former Chairman of the PDP in Anambra State before moving to APGA, where he has served as a Special Adviser to the Governor, National Publicity Secretary of the party, and now the Anambra State Chairman.
He said that APGA, at the moment, was an amalgam of old PDP and APGA and that the party was always open to receiving more newcomers.
Obi-Okoye encouraged those contemplating joining APGA to note that there was no form of segregation or discrimination against new or old members in the APGA family.
While commending the new members, the state chairman noted that the former PDP stakeholders came into APGA at the highest level in the state.
“All of us will grow this party and make it bigger. By your performance, you will rise to unimaginable levels,” he said.
Chief Adilieje, who was a former Anambra State Officer of the PDP, pointed out that he, along with others, was moved to join APGA because of the superlative performance of Gov. Soludo, being acknowledged by every fair-minded citizen.
“Today, we now have a state capital that is truly a capital, the abandoned Government House is nearing completion, and so are many other signature projects. He is working on roads, empowering the schools, hospitals, and so on,” he noted.
Adilieje commended Soludo for the new security outfit he introduced, noting that it was a welcome development.
“One can now sleep with two eyes closed,” he remarked and pledged their commitment to working with him to achieve all that he set out to do in the interest of Anambra citizens.
