Anambra Guber Race: Soludo’s Rival, Umeoji Joins APC, Dumps APGA
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – Ahead of the November 6 Anambra State gubernatorial election, the ranks of All Progressives Congress (APC) have continued to swell in the State with the entrance of some big names into the party.
The latest entry into the Party at the centre is a former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra, Chukwuma Umeoji, who has ditched the ruling party in the South-East state.
At various times, Umeoji, a member of the House of Representatives, was APGA’s governorship in the lead up to the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State. He however lost out to eventual flagbearer, Professor Chukwuma Soludo after a final court order effectively quashed his candidateship.
Mamman Mohammed, Director-General, Press and Media Affairs to the Yobe state Governor and Chairman APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni, said in Abuja Umeoji, who represents Aguata (Anambra) federal Constituency has now joined the APC.
Confirming the development in a statement on Friday night, Mamman said Governor Buni, while welcoming the legislator on board the APC ship, urged him to be dedicated, faithful and loyal to the ruling party.
He assured Umeoji thus “APC will stand for you and your supporters, and protect your political interests at all times. You will enjoy every privilege enjoyed by every member of the party.”
The APC Caretaker Committee chairman charged Hon Umeoji and his supporters to work for the Party’s success in the forthcoming Anambra governorship election, saying; “We expect you to be part of the success story in the coming Anambra election as our victory in the election is getting much more clearer every day.”
Governor Buni assured the people of Aguta federal constituency that their lawmaker’s decision to join forces with APC on the Nigeria project will attract more federal presence to the constituency.
In his remarks at the reception party, Umeoji assured the APC of his unflinching loyalty and that of his political associates as well as the Aguta people, pledging; “We shall contribute to the success awaiting the party in the Anambra election.”
According to the lawmaker; “We are part of the Nigeria project and will from now henceforth work and defend the interest of APC at all levels.”
A source close to Umeoji said the federal legislator had to make the tough decision of dumping APGA after feeling frustrated, unfairly treated and abandoned by the Party’s hierarchy during the political battle with Prof Soludo.
