The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has dismissed the defection of the deputy governor of Anambra State, Nkem Okeke, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as “inconsequential.”
Okeke was formally presented to President Muhammadu Buhari by Mai Mala Buni and Hope Uzodimma, governors of Yobe and Imo at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday.
However, a statement issued in Awka by APGA National Publicity Secretary, Tex Okechukwu, on Thursday, said the defection was long expected.
According to APGA, the deputy governor had thought that the governor and party were going to hand over the governorship ticket of the party to him on a platter of gold.
“When that didn’t happen, he started behaving abnormally, even to the point of insubordination and dereliction of duties,” the statement said.
APGA said the deputy governor left the party without formally notifying the party or the state governor, adding that the move was uncalled for, ill-timed and ill-advised.
“The governor had always treated his deputy with respect, love and consideration,” the party noted.
APGA called on its teeming members to remain united and ensure victory for the party in the November 6 governorship election.
It called on Governor Willie Obiano not to be distracted by the defection of his deputy, which it claimed was a ploy to create a semblance of disunity in his government.
“Let nobody be deceived, APC has no root anywhere in Anambra and that is why all that they do is going about luring political deadwood with money and other lucres.
“No matter the designs of the opposition and other subterranean forces, APGA is poised to win the forthcoming election and continue with the massive infrastructural development going on in the state,” it added.
Aside the deputy governor, six state lawmakers recently defected from APGA to the APC.
A senator from the state, Stella Oduah, also defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
