APGA Threatens Defected Lawmakers With Recall

The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has threatened its members at the National Assembly and Anambra State House of Assembly, who recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with recall.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Okwukwe Ibiam, who stated this in a press statement on Sunday, berated the PDP for accepting the defected lawmakers into its fold.

It would be recalled that the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, while receiving the defectors, said all those who left PDP to join other political parties will soon retrace their steps as a result of the transformation he said was going on in the party.

Mu’azu also described the defectors as prodigal sons, who have found their way back home where they truly belong.

The defectors were four members of the House of Representatives from APGA and one member of the All Progressives Congress from Anambra State, who defected to the ruling party at the party’s National Campaign office in Abuja on Thursday.

Apart from these defectors, others who defected along with them were three members of Anambra State House of Assembly made up of one each from the Labour Party, APGA and Accord Party respectively.

Specifically, the four APGA decampees in the House of Representatives, include Hon. Uche Ekwunife, Hon Afam Ogene, Hon Cyril Egwuatu and Hon Chris Azubuogu. Charles Odedo, is the solo member of the House of Representatives, who had earlier joined PDP from APC.

Honourables John Olibiye, Emeka Idu and Emeka Anahu came from the state House of Assembly.

However, with the defection, APGA said it was relieved at being rid of members who it said had no plans to help build and consolidate what it described as the party’s strides and gains of “our great party”.

Ibiam said, “These members have shown themselves as perennial election ticket hunters, who conveniently declare their allegiance where they may be favored with a ticket. We cannot build the APGA party with such unstable and seasonal ticket hunters.

“We are also disturbed at the character of men and women who hawk, run and throw themselves at the feet of the PDP national secretariat for acceptance. Our electorate does not require such individuals in the party.

“An event that usually has fanfare with party bigwigs in attendance has now been made routine with the ‘Prodigal children’ selling their birthright and clutching at clay structures for acceptance”.

He said to crown their discomfiture and disgrace, they were described as ‘prodigals’ to their faces by M’uazu during their parade at the PDP national secretariat, Abuja.

“APGA will effectively campaign to recover the seats of the prodigal ticket hunters. The peoples’ conscience and trust cannot be mortgaged for individual convenience”, he added.