The political reserves of the opposition continue to deplete as a House of Representatives member elected on the platform of the Labour Party in Enugu State moves into the All Progressives Congress (APC) with a good number of LP members numbering over 1,000.
The lawmaker, identified as Sunday Umeha, represents the Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency in the National Assembly.
Umeha formally announced his decision to queue behind the APC during a mini-rally held on Saturday at Ibagwa-Aka, Igboeze South Local Government Area.
There were several political realignments during the rally, the hugest of which was the defection of a prominent business mogul who was a backbone and major financier of the LP in Igboeze South, Joshua Ogbonna (popularly knowns as ‘father, father’) into the APC.
Ogbonna did not only dump the LP but also led over 1,000 of his supporters and admirers out of the party to join him in APC.
Umeha, who becomes the first elected APC representative in Enugu State since the party’s inception in 2014, revealed he had already resigned from the Labour Party and registered as an APC member in his ward.
He attributed his defection to persistent internal crises within the LP at both state and national levels.
He further stated that aligning with the ruling APC would enable his constituents to better connect with the Federal Government and benefit from national development initiatives.
Receiving the defectors, the Enugu State APC Chairman, Chief Ugochukwu Agballah, declared that the party is now primed to take over Enugu’s Government House—the Lion Building—in 2027.
He blamed the PDP’s 26-year dominance for widespread suffering, citing excessive taxation, land grabs, and the demolition of citizens’ properties under the guise of developing motor parks, which he argued should be the responsibility of local governments.
Agballah commended party stalwart Mr. Peter Okonkwo for donating a zonal campaign office in Enugu North and facilitating the collapse of the LP structure in Igboeze South.
“Today marks a historic decampment—entire local government and ward executives, including the LP’s chairmanship candidate in the last council elections, have joined our party,” he said.
He handed over the party’s flag and broom to the defectors, declaring, “With this broom, we will sweep in good governance and sweep away the reactionary forces that have held Enugu hostage for 26 years. APC is ready to take over Enugu in 2027.”
Chief Joshua Ogbonna, speaking on behalf of the defectors, recounted attempts by opponents to frustrate their movement, including the seizure of hired buses, which forced many to resort to commercial motorcycles.
“Over 1,000 of us have defected today. The work has begun—ward by ward. Igboeze South will not come last,” he vowed.
