The Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Collins Chiji, has given reasons why 26 out of 27 members of the House left their parties for the All Progressives Congress after Hope Uzodinma of the APC was declared governor.
Before the Supreme Court judgment that declared Uzodinma governor, most members of the Assembly belonged to the Peoples Democratic Party, the platform that produced the outside Governor, Emeka Ihedioha.
But as at press time, only the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon Okey Onyekanma, remained a member of the PDP, a development that led to the party alleging that the defected lawmakers were financially induced.
The party alleged that each of the lawmakers were given N50 million and a plot of land to defect to the APC.
But speaking with newsmen in Owerri, Chiji denied the allegation.
He said: “There is no iota of truth in the speculation that we were financially induced to join APC.
“The personality of the governor informed our decision.
“The governor is a good man.
“Our love for our state made us to join APC.”
Chiji also confirmed that 26 out of the 27 members of the Assembly had joined the APC.
He said in an address to APC supporters during a rally in support of Uzodinma in Owerri: “As at last night, we have 26 lawmakers who have declared for APC, and by next week, I assure you that soon the 27 will all be for APC.
“Wait till the next plenary when all of them will officially defect.
“We are ready to support the Governor because he is ready to turn this State around.
“Imo State will be transformed because he has direct connection with President Muhamadu Buhari.
“And we are going to partner fully with the government of Senator Hope Uzodinma.”
The Supreme Court had on January 14, 2020 declared Uzodinma as the Governor of Imo State, an action that ousted Ihedioha from office.
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