By Charles Maduka
A sitting member of the House of Representatives, Sunday Umeha, representing Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency of Enugu State, has defected from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress, marking a significant shift in the state’s political landscape.
Umeha made the announcement at a mini-rally held in Ibagwa-Aka, Igboeze South Local Government Area, where he joined a wave of new defectors led by Chief Joshua Ogbonna, a prominent businessman and major financier of the Labour Party in the area. Ogbonna, popularly known as “Father Father,” led over 1,000 members of the LP—including the entire party structure in Igboeze South—into the APC.
Although the rally took place outside his federal constituency, Umeha stated that he attended in solidarity with Ogbonna and revealed plans to hold his own formal defection event in Ezeagu in the coming days. He confirmed that he had officially resigned from the Labour Party and registered with the APC at his ward.
Umeha, now the first elected APC federal lawmaker from Enugu since the party’s formation in 2014, cited protracted internal crises in the Labour Party as the primary reason for his defection. He also noted that joining the ruling APC would better position his constituents to benefit from national development programmes.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, the APC chieftain Mr. George Ogara praised the defectors as credible grassroots politicians whose entrance into the party marked the beginning of what he called a political revolution.
“The crowd we have seen today is unprecedented. This is the beginning of something historic. United, we will reclaim power and return governance to the people,” Ogara stated.
Enugu State APC Chairman, Chief Ugochukwu Agballah, while receiving the new members, declared that the party is now prepared to take control of the state in the 2027 elections. He blamed the PDP’s 26-year rule for economic hardship, arbitrary taxation, and land seizures, accusing the state government of demolishing citizens’ properties under the guise of infrastructural development.
Agballah also lauded APC stalwart Mr. Peter Okonkwo for facilitating the collapse of the LP structure in Igboeze South and for donating a zonal campaign office in Enugu North. He described the mass defection as historic, noting that even local government and ward executives, including the LP’s former chairmanship candidate, had joined the APC.
Presenting symbolic party flags and brooms to the defectors, Agballah said, “With this broom, we will sweep in good governance and sweep out the failed leadership that has held Enugu back for over two decades.”
Chief Ogbonna, speaking on behalf of the defectors, described the obstacles they faced, including the seizure of buses hired to transport supporters to the rally. Despite the setbacks, he said many still made the journey on commercial motorcycles.
“Today, over 1,000 of us have crossed over to the APC. From here, we will go ward by ward. Igboeze South must lead the charge,” Ogbonna declared.
In a parallel development, former House of Representatives member for Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency in Cross River State, Daniel Asuquo, also defected to the APC from the Peoples Democratic Party.
At a reception held at the APC Secretariat in Calabar, Asuquo explained that his decision was driven by a desire to work with Governor Bassey Otu in advancing the state’s development agenda. He praised the governor’s inclusive and grassroots-focused approach, stating that the defection of his former Labour Party allies and PDP supporters into the APC positioned them to deliver 500,000 votes in the 2027 elections.
“Politics is service, and I’m here to serve. This is about giving back to my people,” he said.
The Chairman of the APC in Cross River State, Alphonsus Eba, commended Asuquo for following the party’s protocols and registering at the grassroots level. “You are now a full-fledged member of the APC. We welcome you wholeheartedly,” he said.
These waves of defections from both the Labour Party and the PDP across Enugu and Cross River States highlight a growing shift in political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections.
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