Chris Okewulonu, a former Chief of Staff to ex-governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State, has officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside Ihedioha’s former deputy governorship candidate, Chuma Nnaji, and their supporters.
Henzodaily reports that the announcement was made on Friday at the APC secretariat in Owerri, Imo’s capital.
Addressing party members, Okewulonu explained the reasons behind his recent departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he also served on the Board of Trustees.
“You will recall that a few months ago, I tendered my resignations, both as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, and as a member of its Board of Trustees.
“My decision to leave that party was taken after deep introspection, coupled with lengthy consultations with members of my family, my political colleagues, and my well-wishers.
“My decision was equally rooted in my conviction that the qualities which formed the essence of the PDP as a political party, and which ab initio informed my attraction to it, had been continuously eroded, totally degraded, and finally and irretrievably lost,” he stated.
Okewulonu further revealed that stepping back from active politics allowed him to critically assess Imo’s political landscape.
“In the light of the protracted disagreements and schisms in both of the parties which should, and were actually looked upon to constitute the frontline opposition parties in Nigeria, I found myself questioning whether, as a veritable statesman in the polity of Imo State and even Nigeria at large, I could afford to continue paying lip service to being a member of an ineffective, nearly non-existent opposition, whereas I could position myself to actively contribute towards improving the lives of my people,” he added.
Okewulonu also commended Governor Hope Uzodimma’s administration for its transformative leadership.
“Five years down the road, I have come to the inescapable conviction that the 3R administration of Senator Hope Uzodimma has meant well for the people of Imo State, and has been doing its utmost to effectively and efficiently deliver the dividends of good governance to them.
“The humongous roads and other infrastructural interventions, and the human capacity building initiatives undertaken by the Senator Hope Uzodimma administration are eloquent testimonials to my belief and assertion,” Okewulonu said.
Welcoming the defectors, Governor Uzodimma described their move as a strong endorsement of APC’s progress in Imo State.
“APC was seen as a foreign party because of the unfortunate outing in the past. We became victims of mistaken identity. Today, the only party that meant well for Imo citizens is APC.
“Genuine members of the political class who want Imo to move forward are joining the winning party. The real state owners are coming back to the party. If we don’t solve the problem of our people, history will not forgive us,” the governor said.
Uzodimma likened Okewulonu and Nnaji’s decision to elite athletes joining a top team.
“Conscience is an open wound that only truth can heal. I thank Okewulonu and Chuma Nnaji for joining our party. We have the Ronaldos and Lionel Messis in our party now,” he remarked.
Nnaji, who previously served as Deputy Speaker in the Imo State House of Assembly, expressed optimism about APC’s future under Uzodimma’s leadership.
“We didn’t come to the party alone, we have over 3,000 supporters who believe in us joining us,” Nnaji said.
Other notable defectors included Paschal Obi, a former House of Representatives member for Ideato South, Tochukwu Okere of Owerri Federal Constituency, and other influential political figures, solidifying APC’s position as the dominant political force in Imo State.