The Anambra State Deputy Governor, Mr. Nkem Okeke, on Wednesday dumped the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
This has apparently brought a new twist to the building intrigues ahead of the November 6 governorship election in the state.
The deputy governor’s defection is also seen as a huge political blow against APGA which is the ruling party in Anambra State.
Okeke was received on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He was led to the Presidential Villa by the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman and Yobe State Governor, Mala Buni, and the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, reports revealed.
Uzodinma is the chairman of the APC campaign council for the Anambra election.
Before now, there was a rumour about Okeke’s defection to the APC, but the deputy governor did not publicly react to the rumour then.
The APC in Anambra seems to be doing pretty well since Andy Uba, a former senator, became its governorship candidate, although under controversial circumstances. Six state lawmakers defected from APGA to the APC.
A senator from the state, Stella Oduah, also defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC, recently.
In an earlier statement foreshadowing the gale of defections, Uba had said, ”President Buhari’s achievements in the South-east would inspire victory for APC in the Anambra election”.
Only recently, Okeke’s principal, Governor Willie Obiano, paid a visit to President Buhari.
During the visit, Obiano was said to have reported the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to the President over the latter’s pronouncement that the Federal Government might declare a State of Emergency in the state, to ensure that the November 6 governorship election in the state takes place.
Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, Obiano revealed that Buhari was opposed to emergency rule in the state, stressing that the President frowned at any form of intimidation ahead of the governorship poll.
