…Blames Oshiomhole
By Mike Odiakose
Crisis rocking the Imo state chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, took a new twist Thursday evening as nineteen APC lawmakers, including the Speaker, Acho Ihim, defected to the Action Alliance, AA.
Governor Rochas Okorocha’ son-in-law, Uche Nwosu had on Tuesday announced his defection to the Action Alliance following his failure to secure the APC governorship ticket.
Apart from the 19 APC lawmakers, three of their colleagues from the PDP who lost out during the last primaries also defected to the AA.
The notice of the defection of the lawmakers was read by the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Acho Ihim, during plenary on Thursday evening.
The Speaker read out his own name as one of the lawmakers defecting to the AA.
According to him, the defection notice was dated November 7.
Apart from the Speaker, the former APC lawmakers who joined AA are Ikechukwu Amuka, Authur Egwim, Uju Onwudiwe, Uche Ejiogu, Ngozi Obiefule, Lugard Osuji, Lloyd Chukwuemeka and Victor Onyewuchi.
Others are Chinedu Offor, Kennedy Ibe, Lawman Duruji, Max Odunze, Henry Ezediaro, and Obinna Egu.
The former PDP lawmakers are Ken Agbim, Bruno Ukoha and Mike Iheanatu.
Speaking after the notice of defection had been read, one of the defectors, Amuka, a former member of APC, accused the national chairman of the ruling party, Adams Oshiomhole, of “collaborating with some people to hijack APC in Imo State.”
The majority leader, Osuji,who equally joined AA, said that the APC national chairman meted grave injustice to them during the controversial APC primaries in the state.
He said that he felt ashamed that he was ever associated with APC.
Osuji who still maintained his status as the majority leader after the defection said that the lawmakers would team up with the AA governorship candidate in the state, Uche Nwosu, to win the governorship election and ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari won reelection.
Agbim, who joined AA from PDP said himself and two other of his colleagues, left the main opposition party because of the emergence of new PDP in the state.
