Peter Obi: formally marries PDP

The former Governor of Anambra state, Mr. Peter Obi, has formally consummated his open romance with Nigeria’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

Today, Obi divorced the All Progressives Grand Alliance,(APGA) the party that made him governor twice and eloped with the PDP.

Obi declared his defection while hosting some top notchers of the PDP in the South-East, led by the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekwerumadu, in his Onitsha home

Others in the team included the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Pius Anyim, and the Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Chief Theodore Orji.

They also included the Governor of Akwa-Ibom, Dr Godswill Akpabio and Gov. Martin Elechi of Ebonyi; former National Chairman of PDP, Okwesilieze Nwodo; former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara and Sen. Uche Chukwumerije.

The members of the Federal Executive Council at the occasion were Chief Emeka Nwogu, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, Mr Osita Chidoka, Prof. Valarie Onwualili, among many others.

The National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, represented by the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the visit followed a resolution by the South-East stakeholders to persuade Obi to join the PDP for more meaningful contribution to national affairs.

Metuh, said that PDP had never lost election in the South East, but only to Obi as a person because of his integrity, forthrightness, hardwork and honesty.

Citing the recent defection to the PDP by Gov. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, Metuh said time was ripe for Obi to follow suit.

Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia said it was not late for Obi to join the PDP and work at the centre for the good of the country.

He described Obi as a man of integrity, who came out strongly on issues and would be an asset to the country at the federal level.

“If some of your people do not believe in you; if we do not admire you; if they do not realise your potentials, we gathered here are telling you that Nigerians believe in you and admire you.

“We are here today to discuss the future and progress of the South-East geo-political zone with our brother Mr. Peter Obi, who was the immediate Governor of Anambra.

“Having reviewed with him the state of the country and how it affects our people, we came to the conclusion that our interest in the country is better served when we remain together as brothers and sister under one party and speak with one voice.

“We all agreed that politics globally is dynamic and changes from time to time. In Nigeria, for example, we have moved from regional parties to regional politics, which requires our people staying together and speaking with one voice.

“We in the East should do the same in the interest of our people. We therefore appealed to him to join the Peoples Democratic Party since that is the party majority of our people belong to.’’

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said Obi extended hands of friendship to everybody that would contribute to the development of Anambra when he was in APGA.

He said that Obi’s demonstration of leadership, integrity, his friendship with the president and commitment to Nigeria prompted them to come and appeal to him to join the PDP.

The Deputy Speaker, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, said the decision to appeal to Obi to join the PDP was a collective one.