• He emphasized that the APC is the largest political party in the country and Africa, boasting many influential members
  

Celestine Ogba (LP-Onicha East), a lawmaker at the Ebonyi House of Assembly, has switched allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mr. Ogba declared his defection during a ceremony held at the state APC secretariat in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State, on Saturday, attended by party leaders.

Expressing his joy at rejoining his former party, he emphasized that the APC is the largest political party in the country and Africa, boasting many influential members.

“I am happy to join them in building blocks which would translate to mansions of delivering democratic dividends to the people.

“What people say does not matter but ideologies which transform the lives of the people.

“The (Ebonyi) state governor has shown that his administration is people-oriented, which is embedded in the people’s charter of needs mantra,” he said.

Mr Ogba said his defection was in the overall interest of his constituency.

“I should not be a clog in the wheels of progress as I want my people, party and state to progress.

“I come from a politically volatile local government area which should make us eschew violence but lay claim to what is rightly due to us.

“I defected with all labour party stakeholders in the constituency as council has become one with the merger of political forces from the east and west constituencies,” he said.

The Ebonyi State chairperson of the APC, Stanley Okoro-Emegha, commended Mr Ogba for defecting to the party and described him as a big fish caught by the party.

“When you go to the river for fishing, you will be happy to catch a big fish and that is what we have done.

“We are looking for the best brains to project the state to the apex of national discourse and enhance our people’s well-being.

“I have known Ogba for long and wished him success in the spirit despite contesting in the opposition,” he said.

He said the APC in Ebonyi was fortifying its fold and the people would realise the magnitude of work done during future elections in the state.

“It will be desirable to see our candidates returned unopposed during elections and realising such starts presently,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ranks of the opposition has been depleting steadily in Ebonyi with mass defection to the APC.