Chris Okewulonu, a former Chief of Staff to ex-governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State, and Chuma Nnaji, Ihedioha’s former deputy governorship candidate, officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) along with their supporters on Friday.
The two political figures joined the APC at the party’s secretariat in Owerri, the state capital, marking a significant shift in the political landscape.
Okewulonu, who had recently resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Board of Trustees, explained that his decision to leave the PDP was driven by his disillusionment with the party’s direction. He stated that the core values that initially attracted him to the PDP had been eroded over time, prompting him to seek a more effective political platform to serve the people of Imo State.
Reflecting on his break from active politics, Okewulonu expressed his frustration with the state of opposition politics in Nigeria, particularly the dysfunction within the PDP. He acknowledged the leadership of Governor Hope Uzodimma, praising the significant infrastructural development, especially in road construction, and the human capacity building initiatives under the 3R (Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Recovery) administration.
Governor Hope Uzodimma welcomed the defectors, describing their decision as a testament to the APC’s growing influence in Imo State. He emphasized that the APC was now seen as the party committed to improving the welfare of the people, distancing it from past misconceptions. The governor likened the addition of Okewulonu and Nnaji to recruiting top athletes, drawing parallels to football stars like Ronaldo and Messi.
Nnaji, a former Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, expressed confidence in APC’s leadership and announced that over 3,000 supporters had joined them in the defection. Other notable political figures who joined the APC include Paschal Obi, former Ideato South House of Representatives member, and Tochukwu Okere, a representative from the Owerri Federal Constituency.
