In what represents another major blow for Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, one of his biggest supporters, Mr Emeka Ojukwu Jnr, son of the founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, has dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

APGA is the ruling party in Anambra and has been whipping up Ojukwu sentiments as a campaign strategy – the party’s Ankara uniform is emblazoned with photos of Ojukwu and Obiano.

Ojukwu Jnr made his declaration on Wednesday in Awka, at the grand finale campaign of the APC candidate for the Anambra 2017 governorship election, Dr Tony Nwoye.

President Muhammadu Buhari, APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, 12 APC governors, National Assembly members in the party, among other party big wigs, witnessed the event.

According to him, his decision to join the party was to protect the interest of the Igbos.

Ojukwu Jnr, who was adorned in a toga of his new party, said it was time for the people of the South-East region to move from “the recession of the periphery to the centre.”

“It is time to leave the shadows for light. Every now and then, they come out with my father’s shadow to confuse the people,” he said.

According to him, APGA is a means to an end but not an end itself.

He said the reason why his father joined the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the Second Republic was to ensure that Igbo people remained in the mainstream of Nigerian politics.

“Mr President, I am proud to stand here today in support of you and in solidarity with the APC and our candidate, Tony Nwoye,” he added.

The APC national chairman presented the party symbol to him and described the rally as “another historic campaign.”

Oyegun recalled that Buhari made history when he unseated the incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, saying that the same feat would be achieved in Anambra 2017 governorship election.

The national chairman urged the people of the state to vote en mass for the party and Nwoye at the Saturday poll.

•With additional reports by NAN.