The Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Chinedum Orji, on Sunday, recieved one thousand members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, into the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the State.
The defected APC members and supporters were led into the PDP by the Vice Chairmanship Candidate of APC during December 18, 2020, local government council election conducted in Umuahia South area of Abia State, Comrade Ifeanyi Duke.
Speaking during the declaration and familiarization event, held in Umuahia South, the Speaker, Hon Chinedum Orji thanked the decampees for the wise decision to join the PDP.
He said, “I’m very happy that you have accepted to work with us, you have really done well and I promise that we will accommodate you and your supporters wholly.
“The mammoth crowd that came out to welcome Comrade Duke to the PDP shows that the former APC chieftain is a very popular politician in the grassroots where it matters most, a man truly loved by his people”.
Earlier in his speech, the leader of the APC defectors, Comrade Ifeanyi Duke, thanked the Speaker for coming to welcome him back to the ruling party.
He highlighted the reasons which triggered his defection from the All Progressive Congress to include the massive infrastructural development of Abia by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of the PDP and many other dividends of democracy provided to Abia people.
Duke further extolled the Speaker, Hon Chinedum Orji, for his Direct Touch Initiative which he said had also been very instrumental in his decision to rejoin the ruling PDP.
Narrating further on why he has such a number of supporters decamping with him to the PDP, Comrade Duke said he has empowered youths and widows in his immediate community and promised to do even more.
It was reported that the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Barrister Chris Ezem, member representing Umuahia South State Constituency in Abia House of Assembly, Hon Jerry Uzosike, Peoples Democratic Party stakeholders in Umuahia South, led by Mr Okezie Chinedu and PDP Chairman of Umuahia South local government area, among others, attended the event.
