Nigeria on path to one-party state, Gbajabiamila raises the alarm as Anambra PDP, APGA lawmakers defect to APC

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has expressed concern over the spate of defection from the opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Honourable Gbajabiamila raised the alarm, on Wednesday night, at the Imo State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.

The occasion was the reception accorded certain chieftains of the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party and the All Progressives Grand Alliance in Anambra State who joined the APC ahead of the November 6 governorship election in the South-East state.

Checks revealed that five of the new entrants to the APC are five federal lawmakers in the House of Representatives.

The list includes; Honourables Vincent Oguwelu, Chris Emeka, Ifeanyi Monah, Ohwudili Ezenwa and Emeka Azubogu.

Others are Barrister Douglas Egbuna, Ebuchi Offor, Chuma Nzeribe,Ifeanyichukwu Ibezi, Emeka Anoku and Chinwe Nwaebili.

In his short remarks at the event which had Yobe State governor and Chairman of the APC Caretaker/Extra Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni, his Imo state counterpart, Hope Uzodimma and the Deputy Senate President, Omo Agege in attendance, Honourable Gbajabiamila jovially described the present gale of defection as “political heist.”

“We don’t want a one-party state. The chamber is becoming a one-party chamber already but if there are more out there let them come first and then we decide who to take or reject.”

He was, however, countered by Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo Agege, who said there was nothing unpleasant in poaching politicians from the opposition parties as he described it as a welcome development.

Senator Omo Agege noted that politicians moving from APGA and PDP to the APC in the Southeast ought to be commended for their courage, as he noted that Anambra and other southeast states are strongholds of the two opposition parties.

Yobe State governor and Chairman of the APC CECPC, Mala Buni aligned with the position of the Deputy Senate President as he equally congratulated the new members saying, they made the right decision by joining the National Party and bringing their people to the national movement.

“You have taken the right decision at the right time, you will enjoy all the rights and privileges of the party.”

The 11 new members of the APC in their individual remarks said they took the decision to dump their parties in order to ensure that the southeast geo-political zone enjoy patronage at the central government.

They also commended Governor Buni for giving APC the required leadership and taking the party to greater heights.

They promised to deliver their constituencies to the party in the forthcoming Anambra governorship election.

Other governors in attendance were Mohammed Badaru Abubakar and Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Jigawa and Kano governors, respectively. (Nigeria Tribune)