A former Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Ebonyi Central Zone, Hon. Lazarus Ogbee, has officially defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ebonyi State.
His defection alongside his over 3,000 loyalists on Monday, marked the end of the leading opposition PDP in Ezza South Local Government Area.
This comes two weeks after the former senator who represented Ebonyi Central, Obinna Ogba, and House of Representatives aspirant, Obinna Nwachukwu, joined the ruling APC in the lshielu Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking shortly after the defection which took place at Unueke, the Ezza South Local Government Area Headquarters, Ogbee commended the governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for the various ongoing projects in the state.
He said he did not defect to APC to destabilise the party as alleged but to join hands together with the stakeholders to build the party in Ezza South.
He urged other Ezza South members to join the moving train for the growth and development of their area.
Ogbee, a former two-term House of Representatives member for lkwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency, expressed gratitude to the APC state Chairman, Stanley Okoro Emegha, for receiving him and his supporters into the party.
“I’m here today to declare that l won Ezza South in the 2023 general elections. No political party has ever won any party l belonged since l joined politics in Ezza South LGA. It’s on record. This is the best time to rejoin my political family for the progress of the Area.
“The APC-led administration in Ebonyi State under Francs Nwifuru is doing well that’s why I am joining the party. His style of leadership prompted me to conclude and decided to resign and join the fold.
”My defection sends ripples through Ebonyi State’s political landscape, it remains to be seen how this move will impact the upcoming elections and the overall dynamics of the state’s governance.
”I am watching to see how this development will shape the political landscape in the state in the days and months ahead.
”I am a respected figure in Ebonyi State politics, l made a bold step today as l officially announced m
Receiving the defectors, Emegha stated that the APC’s doors are wide open to welcome and accommodate everyone.
He called on all politicians and citizens in Ezza South to set aside their differences and focus on building a stronger, more prosperous future for the state.
He extolled his members to allow any opposition party member who wished to join the party.
“Do not restrict people from coming to APC, don’t segregate. Tell them, let everybody come. Let us come together. The house is more than enough to carry all of us”, he stated.