Ex-Imo governor, Ohakim, joins APC

A former Governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, has finally defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) after months of speculations.

Ohakim, who was a staunch ally of former Governor Emeka Ihedioha, announced his defection at Okohia, his country home in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.

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He was elected as governor of Imo State in 2007 on the political platform of Peoples Progressive Party (PPA) but later abandoned his party returned to the PDP.

He was one of the founding members of the PDP in Imo State and remained a PDP member until November 2006, when he defected to the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) to contest for the state governorship election.

‘Why I joined APC’

At the formal declaration at the Burma retreat, Ohakim said he was persuaded to join the APC “by those who will bury me.”

The former governor said: “As they rightly observed, I have a unique orientation in participatory politics that emphasizes common interest as against personal interest.

“It was on record that in 1998, against the pull of the tide, many people were surprised when I refused to line behind APP which was considered the party of the movers and shakers of the State then and joined the PDP. What followed later was almost a political tsunami that consumed the then powerful APP in Imo State.

“This time around, I have refused to swing against the tide because my people, the ones that will bury me when I die, have asked me not to swing against the tide.

“To me, the moment the interest of the people is not factored in any political decision I make, nothing else makes meaning.

“Anyone conversant with my political trajectory would readily identify what defines my choice of political association.

“I particularly get enamoured with any and every engagement that has a promise of deploying party, power and government to serve people conscientiously and with the fear of God.”

Recalling how Governor Hope Uzodimma supported him as governor, Ohakim said he joined the ruling party to help the state governor to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people of the State.