A former Minister of Aviation, Ambassador Fidelia Njeze has defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Also on the defection list is Senator Chukwuka Utazi who represented Enugu North Senatorial zone.
The PDP chieftains were formerly received at the party’s secretariat in Enugu on Saturday.
Other members of the PDP who defected to the APC are Davidson Nnamani, Princess Juliet Oloto, Chika Idoko, Jonathan Eze, Mr Umunna Ugwu and Ezi-Obodo Amechi Idodo of the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
They were received by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology and leader of APC in Enugu State, Chief Uche Nnaji, APC National Deputy Chairman, South, Chief Emma Eneukwu, APC National Vice Chairman South-East, Dr Ijeoma Arodiogbu and the Chairman of the party in the State, Barr Ugochukwu Agballah.
Speaking on his defection, Senator Utazi, who represented Enugu North Senatorial district at the National Assembly between 2015 and 2023, said that he was joining APC because the only way to realize the Presidency of Igbo extraction was to join APC.
He noted that as a national politician, it would serve him better to join politics at the centre.
He said, “Today is a special day in my political career. As a national politician, I want to join politics at the centre.
“What we are doing in Enugu cannot take Enugu anywhere. I resigned from PDP. Nothing is coming to Enugu. If you are not at the centre, you are failing.
“The only way to get Igbo presidency is to serve as a servant at the APC. I want to serve in the party. APC is the only way to join the mainstream national. We will ensure that members join the party. With the party discipline, we will go far.”
On her part, Mrs Njeze, who was also a Minister of Defence, said she was bringing peace to the party.
“My coming in is for peace and progress. Unity is strength. I will be loyal to the party because I know what loyalty is,” she stated.
Receiving the defectors, Eneukwu charged them to shun anti-party activities, warning that the party would not tolerate it.
He said that politics is all about numbers.
“Political party is meant to win elections. Work for the party. Let’s stay put and build the family. We have the ability to win elections in the state.
“Victory comes with hard work, don’t look at the saboteurs. It is a new beginning for the party in 2027.
“We need more people. PDP in Enugu is now a mushroom party. South-East must take its place in Nigeria. Igbo presidency is overdue,” he declared.
Also speaking, the APC Vice Chairman, Southeast, Ijeoma Arodiogbu appealed to the new members to unite for the success of the party in the next election.
He said, “The broom in the party signifies unity and oneness. Enugu has made my job very easy. We have taken everybody.
“We plead for all to unite for the success of the party in the next election. We don’t want to tolerate indiscipline in the party, especially during elections.”
On his part, Agballah urged members of the party to return to their wards and build membership base.
He said the strength of the party lied with the wards and as such every genuine member was be dedicated to the ward and attend meetings.