The was defection galore on Friday, December 20, as Chris Okewulonu, a former chief of staff to former governor, Emeka Ihedioha dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Okewulonu dumped the PDP alongside a former deputy governorship candidate in the state, Chuma Nnaji.
Nnaji contested the governorship election in the state as Ihedioha’s running mate. Both men dumped the PDP with their numerous supporters in Imo State.
Speaking at the APC secretariat shortly after his defection, Okewulonu said he left the PDP after deep introspection, and lengthy consultations with members of his family, political colleagues, and well-wishers
A member of the PDP Board of Trustees, Okewulonu noted that he had tendered his resignation to the PDP some months.
He said, “My decision was equally rooted in my conviction that the qualities which formed the essence of the PDP as a political party, and which ab initio informed my attraction to it, had been continuously eroded, totally degraded, and finally and irretrievably lost.”
He added that he could no longer continue paying lip service to be being a member of an ineffective party while he could contribute immensely to the well-being of his people through the APC.
In his reaction, the state governor, Hope Uzodimma welcomed the new APC members to the party.
The governor said, “APC was seen as a foreign party because of the unfortunate outing in the past. We became victims of mistaken identity. Today, the only party that meant well for Imo citizens is APC.”