Jim Nwobodo Dumps PDP, Joins APC
Notable leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu state, including former Governor of old Anambra state, Senator Jim Nwobodo and a former senator, Chief Fidelis Okoro yesterday defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
They declared for APC at a State APC stakeholders meeting convened by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jeffrey Onyeama.
Nwobodo was recently named by embattled former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) among those who benefited from the multi-billion naira Armsgate fraud, currently being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The former Governor denied any wrongdoing, saying that the N500 million released to him by the NSA was meant for PDP leaders in the South-East to mobilise support for the re-election of Goodluck Jonathan as President in the 2015 election.
Members and stakeholders of APC at the meeting were shocked when Chief Jim Nwobodo, Senator Fidelis Okolo, stormed the meeting.
The Minister, who apparently is attending the meeting for the first time, could not hide his surprise on the turn of events, as depicted in his speech.
Some APC stakeholders at the meeting were apparently surprised by the entrance of Nwobodo and Senator Okoro into the meeting.
The visibly angry stakeholders said: “These are Dasukigate fugitives and food is ready politicians. Are they not those who collected money from Dasuki and allocated 14,175 votes to Buhari as against over 500,000 votes they allocated to former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan?
“Is there no shame in the country again? They are shameless and the unfortunate thing is that they cannot win their wards.
"They will infect and contaminate the APC,” the visibly angry stakeholders said. All efforts made by Dr Ben Nwoye, the state chairman of APC, who seems to be the only one aware of their entry to calm the frayed nerves of visibly angry members failed woefully. Making his declaration speech, Nwobodo urged members of the APC in Enugu State not to be deterred by the electoral losses they have suffered in the State in the past. “You must always lose. What matters is the ability to rise again. I must condemn our former party, PDP. I know we had problems.
I told our former chairman, how come did we allow five Governors to leave the party? “I am not looking for a job. I am talking because I want peace. I want our people to be part of the Federal Government at the centre. I had a problem being an opposition Governor. I am not coming into APC because I want anything. I want our people to reintegrate and have our own share of the Federal Government resources,” Nwobodo said.