The Jude Okeke led faction of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has blamed the gale of defections by members of the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the emergence Prof. Chukwuma Soludo as the governorship candidate for the November 6, election in Anambra State.

It will be recalled that on Thursday six members of the House of Assembly in Anambra State on the platform of APGA defected to the APC.

The party’s faction, in a statement by its
National Publicity Secretary, Ikechukwu Chukwuyere claims that the injustice against ‘authentic APGA candidate, Umeoji and attempt to impose unpopular Soludo’ is behind the defection of the lawmakers.

Chukwunyere who described the development as disturbing, said the defection was a clear indication that the party was losing its grip of the grassroots where real politicking is.

He said, “We have noted with dismay and great concern the mass defection of lawmakers elected on the platform of our dear party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the Anambra State House of Assembly to the All Progressives Congress (APC). It is clear to us as a party that this disturbing mass defection is one of the direct and clear consequences of the injustice meted out to the party’s governorship candidate in the election, Hon. Chuma Umeoji.

“Only those who are not concerned if our party loses the state in the forthcoming election will not support Umeoji’s candidature. It is clear that Umeoji is the candidate that has mass appeal among party members and in the state in general. APGA will lose Anambra State Government House if Umeoji is not allowed to fly the party’s flag because the people want Umeoji at all cost and not Soludo,” he said.

(THISDAY)