By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has lured six All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) members of the Anambra State House of Assembly to its side ahead of the November 6 governorship election.
The election is expected to be keenly contested with the three dominant political parties fielding their best.
With the defection of six APGA members, APC now has a considerable foothold in the 30-member House of Assembly and is now at par with the PDP in terms of number.
The APC has Andy Ubah as its flag bearer for the election. He has contested every governorship poll since 2007. He won the 2007 poll albeit fraudulently, says the Supreme Court which sacked him one year after.
APGA is the ruling party. It fields a technocrat, Charles Soludo, the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who appears to be the favourite in the race. But he faces a rampaging APC that is desperate to entrench itself in the South East.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has Valentine Ozigbo as its ambassador. Also, a technocrat, he has the advantage of the PDP, a party entrenched in Anambra.
But the APC is not leaving anything to chance. It has been benefiting from high profile defections in Anambra State to the party.
Just last week, a senator from the state, Stella Oduah, joins its fold.
The Chairman APC Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee and Yobe state Governor Mai Mala Buni announced that six lawmakers in the Anambra State House of Assembly, have joined their party at a brief ceremony at the Imo Governors Lodge, late on Tuesday.
The six-state lawmakers include Hon. Nonso Okafor, representing Nnewi North, Timothy Ifedioramma, representing Njikoka 1, Cater D. N Umeoduagu, representing Aguata 1, Lawrence Ezeudu, representing Dumekofia, Arthur Chiekwu, representing Idemmih North and Edward Ibuzo, representing Onisha North 2.
Buni said the party is determined to win the Anambra governorship election hence the zeal in engaging critical stakeholders in the Anambra state.
“Mere looking at what is happening, especially now that so prominent and serving state lawmakers have started joining, the grassroots is moving and Anambra people are moving to the APC,” he said.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, said the people of the South-east people have woken up and the region is committed to national politics and be part and parcel of Nigeria.
He also expressed confidence that his party will win Anambra state governorship election.