An All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon Ikem Uzoezie, on Tuesday dumped his party for the All Progressives Congress (APC) citing “personal reasons.”

The lawmaker who announced his defection during plenary said he left APGA to enjoy greater peace of mind as the party had refused to reverse the suspension slammed on him for more than five months with two others.

He said the party had been crisis-ridden and what he labeled as unjust alienation of core party men hence, he could not continue under such hostile environment.

News Express reports that the two-term lawmaker in November 2018 emerged as factional Speaker of the House after an unsuccessful attempt by some lawmakers to impeach the Speaker, Rita Maduagwu.

Subsequent upon that, he was suspended alongside two others by APGA on allegations of anti-party activities and being the arrowhead of the crisis that rocked the State Assembly last year.

While announcing his defection on the floor of the House, Uzoezie said: “Mr Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues in the House for their prayers and support while I was away for medical reasons.

“I want to also announce to you that I have left my former party, APGA, to a new party, the APC for reasons best known to me.

“I have been on suspension, which they notified me in writing, and they have not reversed it at least in writing, so I have to continue my life in a more peaceful environment.”

Though the number of APGA lawmakers will reduce in the incoming assembly to 24 following PDP’s victory in six constituencies, Uzozie will however be a lone voice as the only member of the APC.

APGA currently has 27 members in the House, two PDP members and one APC member. Uzoezie’s defection has merely reduced APGA by one although it still maintains the majority seat.