I joined APC to push for Igbo man to become Nigerian president

A former Nigerian senator from Enugu State, Chukwuka Utazi, has revealed why he defected from the Peoples Democratic Occasion (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Utazi, who represented Enugu North District within the ninth Senate beneath the PDP platform, defected to the APC throughout a gathering of the get together leaders in Enugu on Saturday.

He resigned from the PDP in October, shortly after the 2023 basic elections, explaining that “these beliefs that attracted me to the get together have since receded into oblivion.”

The previous senator defected to the APC alongside different politicians from different political events, together with a 2023 governorship aspirant of the Labour Occasion (LP) in Enugu State, Dave Nnamani and a former Nigeria’s minister of Aviation, Fidelia Njeze.

The senatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress for Enugu North District, Chuka Idoko, his All Progressives Grand Alliance counterpart for a similar district, Jonathan Eze and an entrepreneur, Goddy Jinegwo, equally defected to the APC.

The chairperson of the APC within the state, Ugochukwu Agballah, acquired the defectors to the get together, with different prime leaders of the APC in attendance.

‘Why I joined the APC’

Talking shortly after becoming a member of the APC, Mr Ukazi mentioned he was becoming a member of the get together to understand Igbo presidency ambition.

“At present is a big day in my political profession. As a nationwide politician, I wish to be a part of politics on the centre. What we’re doing in Enugu can’t take Enugu anyplace. I resigned from PDP. Nothing is coming to Enugu. In case you are not on the centre, you might be failing,” he mentioned.

“The one method to get Igbo presidency is to function a servant on the APC. I wish to serve within the get together. APC is the one method to be a part of the mainstream nationally. We’ll be sure that (different PDP) members be a part of the get together (APC). With the get together self-discipline, we are going to go far,” the previous senator acknowledged.

Whereas receiving the defectors into the APC, the Deputy Nationwide Chairperson, South, of the get together, Emma Eneukwu, mentioned with the calibre of individuals who joined the APC, the get together is now in good stead to win elections within the state and pursue Igbo presidency.

“It’s a new starting for the get together in 2027. We want extra individuals (from the PDP). The South-east should take their place in Nigeria. Igbo presidency is lengthy overdue,” he mentioned.

Background

Earlier than the 2023 presidential election, there had been calls from South-east leaders that the area ought to be allowed to provide a Nigerian president for the primary time in 2023.

The hope of many residents of the South-east was dashed when the ruling APC and the principle opposition PDP, the 2 dominant political events in Nigeria, picked their candidates exterior the area throughout their separate presidential primaries in Could final yr.

However the hope was rekindled after a former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, dumped the PDP and defected to the LP, the place he later emerged because the get together’s 2023 presidential candidate.

Though Mr Obi was not the one presidential candidate from the South-east, the LP candidate loved swelling assist throughout the nation forward of the final election, primarily within the South-east and South-south areas.

The LP candidate was seen as a “potent instrument” for realising the Igbo presidency ambition in 2023.

However he misplaced within the 2023 presidential election after coming third within the train with 6,101,533 votes.

Bola Tinubu of the APC was declared the winner after polling 8,794,726 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, who scored 6,984,520 votes.

Mr Obi and Atiku challenged the election end result on the election courts and to the Supreme Courtroom however misplaced in all of the courts.