Emeka Ihedioha has joined APGA from PDP after Obidients, Peter Obi movement rejected him, a report has said.
NewsOnline reports that former Imo governor Emeka Ihedioha has just joined the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of November 2023 election in Imo State, southeastern Nigeria.
This online news platform understands that Emeka Ihedioha’s decision to join APGA is coming days after key players along with “Obidients” in general were opposed to the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives to his initial move to join the Labour Party, the platform of Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State.
A report monitored on ENigeria Newspaper by Newsonline Nigeria quoted a reliable source to have said that Ihedioha joined Imo APGA after he was met with heavy resistance from Obidients who practically tore him to shreds over his derogatory comment in a video that trended online.
Supporters of Peter Obi upon getting hints of the moves by Emeka Ihedioha mobilized to resist the former Deputy Speaker; citing the betrayal from him by particularly campaigning against Labour Party and Peter Obi as well as working against them during the just-ended presidential election in the state.
After several failed negotiations and persuasions, the embattled former lawmaker was advised to join APGA which he did.
The report said the source further revealed that since the resignation of Iyocha Ayu, things have not remained the same in PDP as loyalists of the embattled Chairman are now a target of the new head, Umar Iliya Damagum.
Meanwhile, Newsonline Nigeria reports that Emeka Ihedioha, who served as governor of the state for seven months before the Supreme Court announced Hope Uzodimma as the winner of the 2019 governorship election, withdrew from Imo PDP Primary earlier this week, citing the interest of the party as his reason for the shocking withdrawal.
This online newspaper understands that Emeka Ihedioha’s withdrawal was contained in a letter addressed to the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s main opposition party.
According to him, “In the interest of harmony and unity of the Party, I have decided to make the personal sacrifice of withdrawing from further participation in the processes leading to the emergence of the gubernatorial candidate.”
The former Imo governor appealed to supporters to understand and accept his decision, lamenting that those who had started mobilizing for him may be disappointed.
“And I am sure many of those who have, on their own, already started mobilizing for me in Imo State will be disappointed.
“I sincerely seek their understanding and that of associates, admirers and particularly the electorates who have over the years aligned themselves and identified with my political aspirations,” he added.
