TheCable

Hope Uzodinma, governor of Imo state, says the defection of David Umahi, his Ebonyi state counterpart, to the All Progressives Congress (APC), will be confirmed in a few hours.

Addressing journalists after meeting with Mai Mala Buni, Yobe state governor and chairman of the APC caretaker committee, in Abuja on Monday, Uzodinma said the party is looking forward to welcoming more governors from the south-east into its fold.

He said: “If you recall when I addressed you here a couple of months ago, I told you that the moment I resume office in Imo state as the governor, that the impression and the perception of our party in south-east will change and the resultant effect will be that more credible individuals and governors will even join the party.

“Today I am being vindicated because we are hearing it and I am sure a few hours from now we get a confirmation that one of our best will be joining the party and (he) is the governor of Ebonyi state.

“Of course, I will be very glad and it will be my joy to welcome a governor and more governors, not only him, we are still talking (to) more governors to join.

“APC is the ruling party and for the interest of national integration and cohesion, Imo and south-east, indeed, needs to become part and parcel of the ruling party to make the Nigerian project a complete project.”

Out of the five states in the south-east, only Imo is led by an APC governor, with the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and PDP, respectively, in charge of other states.

But there have been reports that Umahi, who is the chairman of the South-East Governors Forum, has concluded plans to dump the PDP for the APC ahead of the 2023 elections.