by Dolapo Adelana

The immediate past governor of Ebonyi, Chief Martin Elechi, on Sunday defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC) from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Elechi, a two-time governor of Ebonyi, registered for the APC at his country home in Echialike, Ikwo Local Government Area, in front of national party leaders.

The party leaders were in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi capital, for a thanksgiving church service for the recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari from his ill-health.

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“I knew Buhari 49 years ago when I started the movement for the creation of Ebonyi as he intervened during my arrest with nine other comrades, by officers of the defunct Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO).

“I was interrogated while standing for nine hours and he as the Brigade Major in Abakaliki at that time, ordered our immediate release.

“I thank God for his health as he had favoured the people of Abakaliki and will triumph in his onerous task of rescuing the country from misrule.’’

Elechi said he was proud of the PDP due to the democratic ideals of its founding fathers, but its ideals have been truncated by its current leaders.

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“I was elected governor on two occasions under its platform as it used to be the pride of Africa, but was suddenly ravaged by self-inflicted crises and afflictions.

“In 1983 when I was the Secretary of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the old Anambra, the budget for the national elections in Anambra and Imo, now South East zone, was N170,000.

“In 2015, however, the budget for my impeachment was N3 billion and this was followed by the distortion and malpractice recorded in the primaries and congresses to elect the PDP candidates.’’

He added, “Three years ago, I would have attacked anyone who said Ebonyi belongs to APC, but currently, me identify with PDP – God forbid.”

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Dr Ogbonnia Onu, Minister of Science and Technology, thanked Elechi for the decision and noted that President Buhari will be pleased to receive the news.

“What you did today will never be forgotten in the history of the state as we all should support President Buhari to actualise all his objectives for Nigeria.”