In what appears to be a major loss for the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, a popular youth leader in Anambra State, Ambassador Innocent Nduanya on Monday, announced his decampment from APGA.
Nduanya, who is the Deputy National President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, was a political appointee to former Governor of the state, Chief Willie Obiano.
It was gathered that Nduanya was among the foot soldiers of APGA under Governor Obiano, who toiled to ensure the election of incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
However, the former appointees were allegedly abandoned by Soludo, despite the earlier promise that they will be retained from the governor.
This had resulted in many of the former appointees decamping from APGA to join other political parties.
Speaking to newsmen in Awka on his defection, Nduanya said it was obvious from events in the recent past, that his contributions were no longer valued in APGA, hence the need to seek other viable platforms to continue to make his contributions to the development of the state.
The youth leader also alleged ill-treatment from the present APGA government, despite all his sacrifices towards the growth of the party.
“As I bid farewell to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), I want to take a moment to reflect on my 13-year journey with the party. I joined APGA in 2009 and proudly held the position of Local Government APGA Youth Secretary.
“I have been a steadfast supporter of the party, backing notable leaders such as His Excellency Peter Obi, Chief Dr Willie Obiano, and currently, Professor Charles Soludo.
“However, despite my unwavering dedication, I have come to realize that my contributions are not truly valued.
“The pain of being overlooked for appointments, despite being nominated twice by His Excellency Chief Dr Willie Obiano, the former Governor of Anambra State and APGA BOT for the position of Transition Committee Chairman Anambra East in 2022 and 2024, has been a bitter pill to swallow.
“It is with a heavy heart that I have come to the painful conclusion that it is time for me to seek a new platform that will enable me to serve my people and community more effectively.
“As a leader, I believe that I have a responsibility to seek out opportunities that will allow me to make a meaningful impact.
“Therefore, I have made the difficult decision to leave APGA and join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“This was not an easy choice, but I am convinced that it is the right one. By joining APC, I hope to gain access to the center of power and ensure that my people receive the dividends of democracy they deserve.
“As I depart APGA, I want to state that it's unfortunate that as against the party’s mantra of ‘being your brother’s keeper,’ brother abandons his brother. It is with this thought in mind that I bid farewell to my friends and colleagues in APGA.
“I am excited about this new chapter in my political journey and look forward to working with my new family in APC,” Nduanya said.
The mass exodus from the ruling APGA in the state has remained a source of worry to many of the party stakeholders, but incumbent Governor Soludo has persisted that the party must begin to work differently to achieve greater results.
Soludo had at various fora, insisted that the state cannot afford the massive and sometimes, unmerited political appointments as was seen during the reign of his predecessor, inviting former appointees to identify specific areas of need they will address for the state, for him to offer them appointments.