From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has confirmed that the Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, will officially defect to the party on Tuesday, next week, at a colourful ceremony schedule to hold in the state.
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, made the disclosure while swearing in the newly inaugurated members of the state executive committee of the party led by former state Chairman, Ben Nwoye, at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja on Friday.
Speaking during the swearing in ceremony, both the party’s National Chairman and Deputy National Chairman, Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda and Emma Enukwu respectively, enumerated the efforts put in place to attract the governor to the ruling party.
While confirming the defection on the sidelines with newsmen, Nwoye said that the governor would join the APC with the retinue of his appointees and elected officials.
According to Enukwu: “What is happening now and we (South-East) will stand up proudly to talk when others are talking. A deputy national chairman without a constituency is like somebody who is empty in a very empty surrounding. But now there is a concrete foundation. I thank the governor of Enugu State for accepting to join us.”
Confirming the defection, Nwoye said: “Come next week Tuesday, October 14, we will formally receive the governor into our party at a ceremony in Enugu. For us, it’s about looking forward. For us, it’s about delivering Enugu State. Delivering South-East, Turning South-East from opposition zone to actually a part of the ruling party.
“If you look at today’s national protocol, the South-East are found somewhere around 6th or 7th place. We have never been at 6th or 7th place on protocol. Our goal here is to make sure that we move forward.
“Since this Republic started, we are either number one or number two; from one to number three. From the Second Republic, we were playing number two, number three. Now, the South-East is at the relegation,” he said. In his speech, Yilwatda said: “APC is a home to all. The person that came yesterday, the person that came today, the person that will come tomorrow, the person that will come next tomorrow, will have equal rights and equal access, based on our constitution.
“The constitution of the party provides that you are a member of the party, you enjoy equal rights, equal opportunities. Abide by the constitution of the party. Abide by what the party constitution says.
