A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and former member of the House of Representatives, Ifeanyi Ibezi, has dumped the party and declared support for the re-election of Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
Ibezi, who represented Idemili North and South Federal Constituency for about a year in the 9th National Assembly, announced his defection during a meeting with his political associates at his country home in Abatete, Idemili North Local Government Area, on Sunday.
He cited the outcome of the APC governorship primary election, which produced Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu as the party’s flagbearer, as a major reason for quitting the party, describing the exercise as a charade.
Ibezi said the APC had failed to field a credible and electable candidate, stressing that his decision to support Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance was borne out of conviction and a desire to see Anambra develop further.
“Soludo must return for a second term. I have toured his projects and I am convinced he is working. If your party is not ready to win, what do you do? You move on. I can’t be part of a party that is unserious about governance and victory.”
Addressing his followers, the former lawmaker said any loyalist who failed to understand his latest political direction “lacks the basic understanding of politics.”
He added, “Our support for Soludo is total and immediate. The APC is not prepared, and we won’t waste our time.”
The development comes amid growing discontent within the APC following the withdrawal of three frontline governorship aspirants—Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, Sir Paul Chukwuma and Chukwuma Umeoji—hours before Saturday’s primary.
The trio had cited irregularities and alleged violent conduct by supporters of one of the aspirants as reasons for pulling out of the race.
Okonkwo, in a statement, said he could not in good conscience risk the lives of his supporters “in pursuit of a manipulated primary,” while Chukwuma described the process as hijacked by “retrogressive forces.”
