By CHARLES IWUOHA

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Ebonyi State chapter, on Friday celebrated the first anniversary of the defection of Governor David Umahi from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), vowing to take over the state during the 2023 general elections

A statement signed by the APC State Publicity Secretary, Ogbuatu Chidi Simbad, reads in part: “It is already one eventful year of Governor Umahi’s defection to the APC and one year of the inauguration of Ebonyi State APC Caretaker Committee.

"Imagine how time flies and the extent the party has gone to carve a political niche for itself in Ebonyi State. Looking back at the events of this one year, one can only affirm that indeed, Umahi is the answer.

“It is therefore worthy of mention that the historic defection of our dear Governor to the ruling APC changed the Nigerian political map and configuration even as the inauguration of a caretaker committee leadership of the party in the State became leverage to the resuscitation of the APC in the State.

“It is based on the foregoing that our dear Governor whose responsibility for the formidable repositioning of the APC in Ebonyi State as party leader rested squarely on his party administrative acumen and ingenuity, did not relent nor rested on his oars to endear the APC to Ebonyians and indeed to the good people of the Southeast geopolitical zone."

APC, however, applauded the governor for the numerous infrastructural facilities achieved for the people of the state, adding that the governor has made the party proud in southeast zone and Nigeria at large.

Accoording to the party, “Within this period and as Governor Umahi launched his prowess as a consummate political manager of men and resources, Ebonyi State earned unequivocally the first APC State in Nigeria recognition.

"This was further affirmed by one of the party’s major stakeholders in the State and Honourable Minister of Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnia Onu.

“Dr. Onu was overwhelmed by the progress which Ebonyi State had made under Governor Umahi as APC party leader in Ebonyi State during a stakeholders meeting of the party in the State.

"As a major stakeholder of the party, this former Governor of old Abia State knows that the APC in Ebonyi State was gasping for breath of existence in the State before Governor Umahi joined the party and provided it with the needed oxygen of survival and strength.

“That oxygen became the alchemy of the party in the State even as it found expression in the advocacy of leadership accommodation and inclusion which Governor Umahi preached like gospel.

"It was this preaching that saw the APC through very successful Congresses from the wards to the State levels in Ebonyi State, which produced elected officers of the party who are today being reckoned with as the best in the State since the political party came into existence in 2014.”

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