Mike Ugwa, a stalwart of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, a former deputy speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, throwing his weight behind Valentine Ozigbo, the flag-bearer of the PDP.
This defection is one more in a string of movements into the PDP ahead of the November 6 governorship election which analysts have declared Mr Ozigbo, a grassroots favourite and a frontrunner in the race, as “most likely to win”.
At his welcome ceremony into the PDP held in Awka on Thursday, October 28, 2021, Hon Ugwa said that he was leaving the APC because “every feedback and evidence from the grassroots shows that the party has been rejected by Ndi Anambra”.
The former deputy speaker endorsed Valentine Ozigbo, a respected business leader, and his running mate, Mrs Azuka Enemo, a two-time commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, as the “best choice” for Anambra in the upcoming poll.
Ugwa was received by a high-powered delegation of the PDP led by the 2019 Vice Presidential Candidate of the PDP, Mr Peter Obi, who is also the immediate past Governor of Anambra State.
While speaking, Ozigbo thanked Ugwa for his courage and transparency and assured him of an equal opportunity in PDP, declaring the party the “large umbrella big enough for all”.
“While other parties are buying up people to defect, men and women of integrity in other parties who truly love Anambra are standing up for justice and the future by joining our Ka Anambra Chawapu movement,” Ozigbo, a multiple-award-winning global CEO said.
“I congratulate you, Right Honourable, for a bold move, and we are set to win this election. We are grateful for your support, and we thank you for the boost your endorsement has given our campaign.”
The governorship election for Anambra State is set for November 6, 2021. The federal government has promised to deploy thousands of security personnel to the South-East state to ensure that the poll is not disrupted by threats of violence.
