By Izunna Okafor, Awka
It was another moment of massive defection as over 5000 members of different political parties joined the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
This latest political earthquake, which took place over the weekend at the residence of the State Commissioner for Works, Engr. Ifeanyi Okoma, comes barely two weeks after another round of decampees from various political parties also collapsed into APGA in the same community.
The event saw former members and foot soldiers of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), and the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in different parts of Obosi and its environs openly renounce their former parties and declare total loyalty to APGA and the party’s candidate in the forthcoming November 8 governorship election in the state.
Among the decampees were landlords and tenants of Abor Mmiri Estate, who had hitherto been staunch APC mobilizers in the area; members of the Tenants Association of Oduma Obosi, who had been strong supporters of the Labour Party and Obidient Movement; as well as members of the Adaife Caring Minds Foundation, who had been key players and grassroots foot soldiers of YPP in Obosi and across the state, particularly notable for their significant position in late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s grassroots political structure.
The official reception of the decampees at Commissioner Okoma’s residence was graced by top government functionaries, APGA stakeholders in Obosi and Idemili North, and members of the Solution for Good Governance (SGG), a formidable political support group founded by the Works Commissioner.
Speaking at the event, Commissioner Okoma described the mass defection as another clear testimony that Obosi had spoken loudly in favour of APGA and Governor Soludo’s second-term bid. He emphasized that the influx of such critical grassroots mobilizers into APGA from rival parties had practically sealed Soludo’s victory in Obosi and environs.
According to him, the new members were not ordinary defectors but frontline political actors and foot soldiers of the opposition, who had hitherto made electoral victories for APGA tough in the town. He assured them that they had made the best political decision by joining APGA, a party he said represents progress, inclusiveness, and development.
“Today Obosi has witnessed history,” he declared, adding that “This is not just about numbers; it is about capacity. With the calibre of people we have received into our fold today, APGA’s victory in this ward and in Idemili North is already guaranteed. The Governor’s good works are speaking for him, and our people are rallying behind the Solution agenda.”
While urging the decampees to remain steadfast, Okoma promised that their concerns and needs would receive due attention. He also encouraged them to spread the message of APGA’s achievements across the grassroots, assuring them that Soludo’s re-election would consolidate the gains already being felt in Obosi and across Anambra State.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Central Chairman of APGA in Obosi, Hon. Nze Onyedika Abanobi, commended the courage of the defectors, describing their decision as both wise and timely.
Abanobi, who also chairs Obosi Ward 5 of APGA, said the gale of defections was clear evidence that Obosi had embraced APGA as the only political platform with proven results in governance. He pledged the party’s readiness to integrate the new members fully into the structure and to ensure they benefit from APGA’s developmental focus.
Also speaking, the President-General of Obosi, Barr. Chimezie Obi, extolled Governor Soludo for his transformative policies and projects across the state. He cited verifiable projects already executed in Idemili North and Obosi, ranging from road infrastructure to urban renewal initiatives, noting that the Governor’s administration had been incomparably beneficial to the town. He also specifically thanked the governor for appointing their son as Works Commissioner in the state as well as for siting a Smart School in Obosi community, among other multis-ectoral development and policy initiatives of his administration that the community has largely benefited from.
According to him, the continued defection of the people of Obosi and its environs to APGA was simply a reflection of the community’s appreciation of the Governor’s outstanding performance. He consequently assured that the community would reciprocate Soludo’s good works with overwhelming votes in the November governorship election.
In their separate remarks on behalf of their respective members shortly after being received into the APGA Family, the Chairman of Abor Mmiri Estate, Chief Christian Onuigbo; the Chairman of Landlords and Tenants Association of Oduma Obosi, Chief Innocent Agwuncha; and the Founder/Anambra State Coordinator of the Adife Caring Minds Foundation, Hon. Mrs. Amaka Thelma Edeh, expressed delight in joining APGA.
They described their defection as a migration to light, having seen, felt and benefited from the developmental strides of Governor Soludo. They also declared that they had collapsed their entire structures into APGA and would embark on aggressive house-to-house mobilization to ensure total victory for the Governor.
While commending Soludo for the visible infrastructural and economic transformation in the state, the leaders of the new entrants also passionately drew Commissioner Okoma’s attention to some of their urgent needs. These, they said, include a quick intervention needed on the Abor Mmiri Estate road, provision of a 500KVA transformer for Oduma Obosi, and erosion control in that same area of the community.
In a symbolic demonstration of their commitment and full-fledged solidarity, the new decampees from Abor Mmiri Estate also donated four cartons of malt drinks and an undisclosed amount of money to support APGA’s campaign activities in Obosi.
Beyond the reception of the defectors, the tripartite event also featured the official inauguration of the Obosi Ward APGA Campaign Council Committee for Governor Soludo’s re-election bid, as well as a strategic stakeholders’ meeting of the party in Obosi ahead of the Governor’s proposed visit to the community on October 2 at the Ascension Church, Obosi.
Performing the inauguration, the Chairman of Idemili North APGA Campaign Council Secretariat, Hon. Obi Idemobi, alongside the APGA Chairman in Idemili North, Chief Lemmy Ekwo, charged the committee members to put in their best to ensure the Governor records a landslide victory.
They particularly reminded the new committee that Obosi, being the largest political ward in Anambra and the second largest in Nigeria, must also produce the greatest number of votes for APGA in the November 8 guber poll.
Headed by Dr. Robinson Amaechi Mgbakogu, the newly inaugurated Obosi Ward Campaign Council Committee comprises prominent political figures and party stalwarts in the area.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Mgbakogu, appreciated the opportunity given to him and other members of the committee, while also reassuring the committee’s dedication and determination to mobilize massively and deliver unprecedented victory for Governor Soludo.
Other notable personalities at the event included APGA stakeholder, Chief Alex Omezie Chukwurah (Oshia Obosi); the Deputy Mayor of Idemili North, Hon. Lady Phina Onwuachu; former lawmaker representing Idemili North in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Tony Muonagor (popularly known as Tony One-Week); and the Councillor representing Obosi Ward, Hon. Obichukwu Anyafulu, among others, who all pledged their full commitment to the party’s victory.
This reporter, Izunna Okafor, gathered that the event ended on a high note, with renewed confidence that Obosi had become one of the strongest APGA fortresses in Anambra State ahead of the November 8 governorship election.
More photos from the event:
