From Felix Ikem, Nsukka
A former All Progressive Congress (APC) chairmanship candidate in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu States Hon. Ogbonna Idoko has dumped his party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with over 1000 of his followers.
Idoko, a successful businessman contested and lost to PDP candidate during 2017 Enugu council polls, he was a strong member of APC with large crowd of followers.
Addressing PDP members at the weekend in Ogrute the Igbo-Eze North Council headquarters during the party’s monthly expanded and stakeholders local government meeting, Idoko said that he hard already declared for PDP and obtained his membership card at his Umu Ozzi ward 5 a month ago with his followers.
He said, he and his followers did not leave APC because they could not achieve their political desire, but to stand on a better platform for the good of his people, Igbo-Eze North and Enugu State, adding that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s youths inclusiveness in governance, his peaceful disposition and leadership style was another factor that influence his decision to decamp to PDP.
According to him, “I’m hear today with my teaming supporters and followers, over one thousand of them, to present and hand over ourselves to the executives of PDP in Igbo-Eze North LGA as new members, haven registered and obtain membership card as our various wards.
“After due consultations and consideration, we unanimously agreed to decamped to PDP. Part of our reason for such a decision was to join force in attracting democracy dividends to our people and support the administration of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
“Personally, I am overwhelmed by the governor’s leaderships style and the way he included youths in his administration, even his love for peace and his records in urban and rural developments,” he said.
The business man turned politician, whose supporters cut across the twenty political wards in the local government, however, declared that “my joining PDP with all my followers across the all the wards, towns and villages in Igbo-Eze North LGA has finally signaled the death of APC in Igbo-Eze North.
“I assure you that I and my followers will be loyal, respect and abide by the rules and regulations of the PDP, and we will contribute our quarter in sustaining the parties dominant in the state and its efforts to retake power at the federal level,” he said.
Receiving the former APC chairmanship candidate into PDP, Local government chairman of the party, Mr. Alexander Uramah expressed joy that Idoko and his supporters has at last joined PDP, the ruling party in the state.
He described his joining PDP as good asset to the party, even as he noted the he was a strong opponent to PDP during the time he contested for local government chairmanship.
He assured Idoko and all the new entrants of level playing ground, promising that they would not be treated differently in the affairs of party.
“I’m happy that Idoko and his supporters are now card carrying member of our great party PDP, this is a huge victory for PDP in Igbo-Eze North and the state.
“Idoko is a movement, a strong and serious politician, a grass root mobilizer, he gave us tough time in 2017 when he contested for LG chairmanship under APC against our candidate, we thank God that today he is one of us. I therefore assure you and your followers of equal playing field,” he said.
Earlier in a remark, Prince Ejike Itodo, the Council chairman of Igbo-Eze North LG who welcomed Idoko and his supporters for decamping to PDP, told them that with PDP victory is assured.
“Idoko and his supporters has done the right thing by decamping because PDP is Enugu State and Enugu State is PDP. We are all following the foot steps of Governor Ugwuanyi to better the lots of the people,” he said.
Daily Sun gathered that among those that defected with Hon. Idoko were former and serving APC local government and ward functionaries.
Hon. Ethel Ugwuanyi, Member representing Igbo-Eze North constituency 1 in Enugu state House of Assembly, Hon. Chidi Nwo Omeh, former Council chairman of Igbo-Eze North LGA were among the stakeholders present during the meeting.