Victor Umeh dumps APGA, defects to Labour Party, picks senatorial ticket

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Senator Victor Umeh, has dumped the acclaimed Igbo party for Labour Party (LP).

Umeh had earlier on Friday announced his intended move to Labour Party, where he also contested for the senatorial ticket of the party and won.

With the victory, the former senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial zone will be contesting the 2023 election against Senator Uche Ekwunife of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Hon Dozie Nwankwo, who defeated him to pick the APGA ticket.

While declaring the result of the primary election held at Beautiful Gate Hotel, Awka, the returning officer in the election, Hon Pat Nky Obi, said: “We have just one candidate, Senator Victor Umeh, and we have 32 accredited delegates.

“At the end of the election, we have a total of 32 valid votes, and I hereby declare Senator Victor Umeh the winner of the election, having scored all 32 votes.”

Umeh in his acceptance speech said: “I thank all of you who voted for me to stand for this election on your behalf. I’m very happy that Labour Party has offered me the opportunity to continue to defend our people.

“At this point of our nation’s history, it is very important that I go to the Senate and represent our people. I have been there before and our people saw what I was able to do.

“Labour Party will afford me the opportunity to reunite with my brother Peter Obi again. He called me last Saturday to commiserate with me on my loss of the APGA ticket, and asked me to join Labour Party and let’s team up and work together.

“I immediately resigned from my party on 30th and registered in Labour Party on 31st of May. I will put all my weight and ensure we win. I’m coming from a progressive party, and I have entered another progressive party.

“It has been my dream to have an Igbo man as president and Labour Party joined in that thought and elected an Igbo man as its candidate. I will follow him, campaign for him and make sure that all the candidate of the Labour Party wins.

“I and Obi have partnered before and we were able to do exploits in politics, and we will do even more exploits this time. This is a divine effort and we will win. We have consulted widely and many stakeholders have asked me to join hands with Peter Obi to contest this election.

“We have decided to put our differences apart and work not just for the good of Anambra but Igboland and Nigeria. He (Obi) is the man who can truly turn Nigeria from a consumption economy to a production economy. My brother Peter can also save for this country because I know what he can do.”