The rulling All Progressives Congress APC in Ebonyi State has welcomed another Defectors from the opposition party to its fold, as the Chairman of the party in the State, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, re+echoed his unflinching determination to bring all notable leaders in the state to the party.
Chief Emegha, while speaking with journalists shortly after receiving the pioneer Local Government chairman of Onicha and one time commissioner for finance in the state, Barr. Timothy Odaa popularly known as (Die Respect), a chieftain of the opposition people's Democratic party PDP, in the APC new secretariat, Abakaliki, the state capital said, his intentions is to bring every political actors into the party so as minimize political tension and crises usually witnessed during electioneering period and make the state as has been exemplified the leader of the party in the state, Governor Francis Nwifuru.
“Our primary goal is to create a one-party system to foster unity and accelerate state development,” Chief Emegha stated, emphasizing that collaboration, rather than opposition, is the most effective path forward for the state.
Recruitment and Unification Strategy
Chief Emegha detailed a deliberate strategy of consolidating political power by personally reaching out to key stakeholders and experienced political figures from opposition parties, persuading them to join the APC.
“Continue outreach to key stakeholders to persuade them to join the APC is still ongoing,” Emegha assured. He revealed specific recruitment targets, noting, “We are assiduously working to ensure that resourceful individuals join the party by the 28th of this month, and we are still aiming to have another key figure join between December 1st and 18th.”
Discipline and Candidate Selection
Addressing concerns over potential infighting as the party absorbs former rivals, Emegha highlighted the role of strict party discipline as the “bedrock” of the party’s strength, necessary for managing a large, unified structure.
The Chairman emphasized that joining the party does not guarantee an election ticket. He asserted that candidate selection will ultimately depend on popularity and the will of the masses, stating the party, led by Governor Nwifuru, will prioritize public opinion over party loyalty to ensure only popular candidates who can deliver “dividends of democracy” are supported.
The event saw the defection of a former commissioner, Barr. Timothy Odah, otherwise know as Due Respect, who had been out of politics for 12 years. The former official explained his return as a “clarion call” driven by a desire for peace, unity, and a collaborative effort to bring development to his previously neglected region. He stated his focus was not on running for office but on contributing to progress and ensuring peaceful, non-violent elections.
The overall objective of the APC’s strategy, Emegha concluded, is peaceful collaboration to deliver development, such as roads, bridges, and people-oriented infrastructure, to all neglected areas of the state.
On his part, Barr. Timothy Odaa (Due Respect) said his coming into APC is the APC having taken a leave from active politics in the past 12uears, is to add value to what the party is already doing.
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