The race for the 2023 general elections is obviously yet to start but the realignment of political forces has already begun, especially in Abia State, where the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is widely believed to have performing abysmally for the past 20 years.

In the latest of such moves, a chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Ambassador Bishop Emeka Nwankpa, on Friday, January 3, 2020, dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Addressing APC Leaders, party faithful, Executive Members of his foundation and the other decamped members at Okpuala, Isiala Ngwa North LGA Headquarters, Bishop Nwankpa said he is back home. The ORACLE OF GOD, as he is popularly called, announced that he was decamping with over 10,000 APGA and PDP members across the state. He urged other party leaders across the 184 wards of Abia State to drop their early political ambition and come together to build the party to make it more formidable.

In their separate speeches, the Isiala Ngwa North Chairman of APC, Hon. Endy Ogalabu, Barr. Menyechi Onuoha; the state Legal Adviser, Hon. Joshua Mentor Onyekwere; Hon. Chimezie Godwin Iroegbu, Mrs. Ngozi Egege; and Mr. Martins Orjiall expressed happiness that Bishop Nwankpa is back to his family. This, they said, will boost the party, not only in Isiala Ngwa North but Abia in general, describing him as a force and bridge builder whose impact is has been felt already, while assuring that all the new members shall be accommodated without discrimination.

In his response, Mr Chisom Egbe, who spoke on behalf of the decamped members, thanked Bishop Nwankpa “for his humility, vision and leadership qualities,” adding that he is a great asset to humanity, which is the reason they joined him to APC and promised “to work in synergy with the party to liberate Abians from long-time political slavery and infrastructural decay.”

The highlight of the occasion was handing over of the symbol of the party, the broom, to Bishop Nwankpa by the APC LGA Chairman, Hon. Endy Ogalabu.

The Umukalu Ntigha, Isiala Ngwa North-born philanthropist arguably has the largest empowerment structure in Abia State and for the past 14 years, which is a major boost for APC. He was a pioneer member of the All Nigerian People’s party (ANPP), Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) and later APC in Anambra State where he resides. However, on getting back to Abia, his home state, he met a factionalised party and was lured into APGA, just few months to the 2019 elections. His presence added more bite and glamour to APGA in Abia State as he later secured the ticket to run for election under the platform of the party.

It would be recalled that few months back, Chief Chidi Ajaegbu, former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Abia Central Senatorial Candidate of APGA during the 2019 elections, dumped the party for APC.

Similarly, another respected elder statesman, Dr. Max Nduaguibe, Director General of Dr. Alex Otti’s gubernatorial campaign, also left APGA for APC.

•Bishop Emeka Nwankpa, armed with a broom, addressing APC faithful while rejoining the party on Friday