The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State has welcomed Hon. Sunday Umeha, the member representing Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, into its fold.
Umeha, who was elected under the Labour Party (LP), announced his defection at a mini-rally held over the weekend in Ibagwa-Aka, Igboeze South Local Government Area.
He was joined by a prominent Labour Party financier in the area, Chief Joshua Ogbonna—popularly known as “Father Father”—who led over 1,000 party members, including the entire local government structure, into the APC.
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Explaining his presence at a rally outside his constituency, Umeha said he was there in solidarity with Ogbonna and noted that a formal event to mark his defection in Ezeagu LGA would hold soon.
He disclosed that he had already resigned from the Labour Party and registered as an APC member in his ward.
Umeha cited deep internal divisions within the Labour Party at both national and state levels as a key reason for his departure.
He also emphasized the importance of aligning with the ruling party to better serve his constituents and connect them to federal opportunities.
With his defection, Umeha becomes the first APC member to hold an elective office in Enugu State since the party’s formation in 2014. He praised the APC’s impact in the Southeast, highlighting key federal infrastructure projects such as the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, and the Second Niger Bridge as examples of the party’s commitment to the region.
Reacting to the development, the APC leader in Enugu State and Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji—represented by his 2023 running mate, Barr. George Ogara—expressed delight at the growing support base of the party.
He welcomed Umeha and other new members, describing them as credible grassroots leaders who will strengthen the APC in the state.
“It’s indeed time for us to come together to retrieve power from those who have been using it to oppress the people. What is happening here today, the sheer number of defectors has not happened elsewhere in the state before. I urge all of us to remain steadfast because all of us shall be the beneficiaries when victory is achieved,” he said.
Speaking while receiving the defectors, the Enugu State Chairman of APC, Barr Ugochukwu Agballah, said the party was getting primed to take over Enugu’s seat of power, the Lion Building, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2027.
Agballah stated that PDP’s dominance of governance of the state for 26 years has only brought tears, anguish and sorrow to the people with high taxations, land grabbing, and demolitions of people’s means of livelihood for the purpose of building motor parks, which ordinarily should be the responsibility of local governments.
He thanked a chieftain of the party from Nsukka local government area, Barr Peter Okonkwo for donating Enugu North Senatorial Zonal Campaign Office to the party and facilitating the collapse of LP structure in Igboeze South LGA.
“Peter Okonkwo is equipped for the redemption of Enugu state and we will not shy away from that task,” he said.
Agballah noted that the defection was unprecedented in the history of decampment in Enugu state since the 2023 general elections, where an entire LGA and wards executive members led by the LP local government Chairmanship candidate in the last LGA election are all declaring for APC.
“It is a total collapse of structure. Today I hand over to you the symbol of our party, our flag; I hand you the broom, which is an insignia of our party and with this broom we are going to sweep in good governance in Enugu state, with this broom we are going to sweep away the reactionary forces that have held our people hostage for 26 years. With this broom we are going to bring back democracy in Enugu state.
“I want to say it here and I want to say it loud and clear to all doubting Thomases, that APC Enugu state is poised to take over the government of Enugu come 2027.”
In his remarks on behalf of other defectors from Ibagwa-Aka local government area, Chief Joshua Ogbonna recounted efforts made by opponents to stop them from defecting to APC; including seizing the buses they hired to convey the people to the venue which made them to resort to using commercial motorcyclists.
“We are more than 1000 that defected to APC today. I’m telling you that work begins today in Igboeze South local government area; it will be ward to ward movement. I’m assuring you that Igboeze South will not come last,” he posited.
 in Enugu State has welcomed Hon. Sunday Umeha, the member representing Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, into its fold.){kind=link}