By Praise Necherem
A group, The Progressive Movement for Peace (PMP) has dismissed alleged defection of the 12 aspirants in the recent primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Anambra State ahead of the November 6 governorship election to other political parties.
National Cordinator, Emeka Nnebedum, who said this in a statement, clarified that it was only three aspirants that decided to defect, while the rest remained in the Party as reconciliation efforts continue.
He however described the defectors as baggages with very little or no political consequence, assuring them that they would not be missed by the party.
The statement read in part, “The Progressive Movement for Peace (PMP)’s attention has been drawn to a fake news making the rounds on some online platform purporting that 12 aspirants that participated in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Anambra State, primary election for the forthcoming state governorship election in November, have defected and were on the verge of joining other political parties.
The statement said, “According to the fake reports, the said defection comes after series of marathon meetings in the efforts to resolve disagreements between the party and aggrieved aspirants who could not make it, at the party primary election held in June 26, 2021.
We, the members of PMP, wish to state clearly and unambiguously that only three aspirants of very little or no political consequence have made such decision.”
They are; Chidozie Nwankwo, Ben Etiaba and Geff Onyejegbu. Other aspirants have chosen to remain in the Party as reconciliations are still being worked out.
“We may also add that these aspirants rather than being assets to the party, are baggages and which a serious-minded Party shouldn’t take into an election.
“It is also clear why the trio made the desperate dash out of the Party given that their purported defection came during the deadline for the closure of substitution window of names by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Their intention was never about service. It has always been about what they can get and the APC members saw through that. We also wish to state that other serious aspirants and authentic members of APC in the State are with the Party.
“As a group for peace and democracy, we the members believe implicitly in the freedom of association and right to dissociate from any political Party according to individual choices. Therefore, the defecting aspirants will not be missed.”