By CHARLES IWUOHA

Supporters of former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, at the weekend cross-carpeted to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Anyim’s loyalists are former members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in lvo LGA of the state.

The defectors include a former two-term House of Representatives member, Hon. Livunus Makwe; a former two-term House of Assembly member, Hon. Oliver Osi; and Aja Nwabueze, deputy governorship candidate of Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 general elections in the state.

Others who defected to the ruling party include leaders and members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), National Rescue Movement (NRM) and other opposition parties in the local government.

The APC state chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, and Ivo LGA chairman, Chief Emmanuel Ajah, received the defectors.

“The defectors are coming into APC because of the good work of His Excellency the Governor.

“Government is a big institution and APC is large enough to accommodate everyone. We are one big family, we are united. We will give you your dues in the party, and we will carry you along in everything we do,” Ajah stated.

Makwe, who spoke on behalf of PDP defectors, said they were coming into the APC to strengthen and add value to the party.

He explained that they dumped PDP because the party jettisoned zoning during the 2023 general election. He commended the local government chairman for restoring peace in Ivo LGA.

On their part, the deputy governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Ajah Nwabueze and the chairman of NRM in the local government, Orji Joseph, said they were attracted to APC because of Governor Nwifuru’s style of leadership, which they argued has united the state.

The state APC chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, enjoined those who are already in the party not to see the defectors as those coming to displace them in the party.

“Do not be afraid of competition; it’s only competition that can bring out your best. Nobody has come to dislodge anybody in the party.

“I am happy that the leaders of opposition parties in Ivo have joined APC. With these people, there is no more opposition in Ivo,” he stated.

He called for continued unity and peace in the party and assured that the party would not segregate against anyone.

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