The former deputy speaker of the Imo state House of Assembly, Okey Onyekanma, has spoken about his alleged defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Party (APC).
Onyekanma explained that he only resigned his position as the deputy speaker of the house, saying he remains a PDP member despite his colleagues’ defection.
The state House of Assembly has been witnessing defections from the PDP to the APC following Emeka Ihedioha’s ouster.
Earlier, The Herald reported that eight members of Imo state House of Assembly, including the speaker, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressive Congress.
The speaker announced his defection and that of his colleagues during a plenary on Tuesday, January 28.
Apart from the speaker, others who defected include Uche Ogbuagu (Ikeduru), Dominic Ezerioha (Oru West) Chigozie Nwaneri(Oru East), Kanayo Onyemaechi (Owerri West), Kennedy Ibe (Obowo) Onyemaechi Njoku (Ihitte/Uboma), and Eddy Obinna (Aboh Mbaise).
READ ALSO: Cardi B’s Husband Offset Detained By Police Over Gun Possession
The ruling APC now has 18 lawmakers with PDP having eight members after the defection. One of the defectors, Ogbuagu, in a letter sent to the speaker, announced his decision to switch his party affiliation to the APC.
He said his decision was precipitated by the “unfair” treatment he got in PDP, adding that his party switch was in the interest of his constituency.
Ogbuagu, who is the southeast’s pioneer tele-comedian, built his political reputation as a critic of former governor Rochas Okorocha.
It was also gathered that he is the owner of My Radio FM Owerri and Real FM Aba. Uzodinma was sworn-in on Wednesday, January 15, an event that triggered the shifts in the House of Assembly.