By Mercy Gadia Adi
Hon. Sunday Cyriacus Umeha, the lawmaker representing Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency of Enugu State, has officially defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defection was announcedj during a rally held at Ibagwa-Aka in Igboeze South Local Government Area.
According to Umeha, his decision to leave the LP stems from the party’s internal crises, leadership tussles, and instability at both national and state levels. He expressed his desire to “connect to the centre” and bring federal opportunities closer to his people. Umeha had already resigned from the LP and registered with the APC in his ward.
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The APC Chairman in Enugu State, Mr. Ugochukwu Agballah, was present at the House plenary to witness the defection. Upon Umeha’s decision, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Abbas Tajudeen, welcomed him warmly, saying, “Your sins are forgiven.”
This defection marks a significant shift in Enugu’s political landscape, with Umeha becoming the first elected APC federal lawmaker from Enugu State since the party’s formation in 2014.
Over 1,000 LP members, including local government and ward structures, also defected to the APC, led by Chief Joshua Ogbonna, a prominent businessman and LP financier in the region.