The six Members of the Anambra State House of Assembly that, on Tuesday, decamped from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) were “bought” with N25 million each, it has been informed.
The House members who defected to APC were Hon. Cater Dike Umeh, Hon. Smart Nonso Okafor, Hon. Lawrence Ezeudu, Hon. Tim Ifediora, Hon, Arthur Chiekwu, and Hon. Edward Ibuzo.
A source, who witnessed the meeting between APC chieftains and the APGA lawmakers, disclosed this on condition of anonymity to this medium on Tuesday.
According to the source, each member was promised N25 million each to dump APGA, the ruling party in the state.
ElombahNews earlier reported that six APGA lawmakers decamped to APC on Tuesday.
The report, however, stated that in all, twelve House of Assembly Members will make the move to APC as six others are set to join.
The defection followed a secret meeting held in Abuja with APC leaders from the state where terms and conditions were negotiated.
When contacted, some of the lawmakers denied the claim, saying that it is mere fallacy.
Meanwhile, insinuations are rife that the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Uchenna Okafor, who is currently holidaying in London, will also possibly decamp to avoid impeachment.
Another source said that the Speaker is making frantic calls to his colleagues on the way forward.
The Speaker risks impeachment if he fails to decamp as APGA will lose majority if and when all lawmakers ready to jump ship do so.
The latest development followed the recent defection of the senator representing Anambra North, Stella Oduah who defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling APC.
News of her defection was broken to newsmen by Senator Stella Oduah in the company of the APC caretaker national chairman, Mai Mala Buni, chairman APC Anambra Campaign Council and Imo state governor, Hope Uzodinma, Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, and the APC candidate for Anambra State governorship election, Senator Andy Uba.
One source claimed that Senator Oduah’s defection few months to the Anambra 2021 governorship election coming up on November 6 was to present her as Andy Uba’s running mate in the election.
However, the real reason behind her defection to APC has been unraveled by APC members.
Recall that recently a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against the former Aviation Minister if she failed to appear in court by the next adjourned date in an alleged N5 billion fraud trial.
Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the warning on July 12 after Dr. Hassan Liman, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the trial against Senator Oduah and eight others told the court that the former minister was not in court to take her plea.
According to an insider, Oduah was blackmailed into defection or face the humiliation of a criminal trial and possible jail term.
Sandwiched between the devil and the deep blue sea, she did not hesitate to jump ship to save her neck from the hangman’s noose.
The blackmail tactic has been successfully deployed by APC against several PDP office holders including governors and senators past and present.
In another development, President Muhammadu Buhari has presented the party’s flag to Andy Ubah, the APC Anambra gubernatorial candidate in State House on August 31.
Present at the event with President Buhari were the Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, APC Chairman Caretaker Committee and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, APC Candidate for the Anambra Gubernatorial Elections Senator Andy Uba, Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, SGF Boss Mustapha and Minister of Special Duties Senator George Akume as he presented Flag to APC Candidate for the Anambra Gubernatorial Elections Senator Andy Uba in State House on 31st Aug 2021.
Source : elombah news
