We won’t admit PDP defectors – Enugu APC

The Enugu State chapter of the All Progressives Congress on Wednesday said it would not admit any member of Peoples Democratic Party into its fold.

The Publicity Secretary of APC in Enugu State, Mrs. Kate Offor, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outcome of the party’s State Executive Committee meeting.

It was gathered that the decision was informed by feelers that some prominent members of the PDP in the state are plotting to defect to the party, and in the process, capitalise on their ‘high profile’ to hijack key appointments meant for the state at the national level.  

It is widely speculated in Enugu that a former power minister, Prof. Barth Nnaji, is planning to move to the APC. 

Also, there were reports on Monday that some members of the APC paid a courtesy call on a former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, a PDP chieftain in Enugu State. 

Apparently reacting to the alleged plan by the PDP bigwigs to move into the APC, Offor equally revealed that the SEC frowned at some elements within the state chapter of the party, who, without authorisation, had commenced talks with the PDP members who intend to cross over to the APC. 

She warned that the party would not hesitate to sanction any member found to be involved in unauthorised moves to admit PDP members into the party. 

Offor noted that the PDP chieftains who intend to join the APC intend to reap where they did not sow.

The Enugu State APC spokesperson said, “At an enlarged meeting of the State Executive Committee of Enugu State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, we unequivocally resolved that the membership drive aimed at enlisting Professor Barth Nnaji, Chief Jim Nwobodo and co into our great party be stopped forthwith. 

“For us it is medicine after death, given the shameful result we recorded in the presidential and governorship elections, where we got less than three per cent and 10 per cent of the total votes cast in Enugu State respectively.

“Accordingly, we are outraged that some elements without authorisation or due process had already held sinister meetings with Professor Nnaji in his Umuode village and if not stopped will head to God knows where.

“We hold Professor Nnaji, robotic engineer, and our elder statesman, Chief Jim Nwobodo, and other eminent sons in very high esteem, however, we frown seriously at clandestine moves of some people reaping where they did not sow.”

Offor alleged that Nnaji refused to join the party when the APC presidential campaign council lobbied him to join the party before the elections.