A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Commissioner, Ebonyi State Secondary Education Board, Hon. Okey Mgbada, has joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) with hundreds of his supporters and political associates.
The American-trained cyber security specialist defected at a special rally held at Ezza North Local Government Area secretariat, Ebiaji on Thursday.
Mr Okey Mgbada, who is a son to one of the foremost founding fathers of Ebonyi State and a former member of the PDP Board of Trustee, Barrister Owelle Felix Mgbada, said he was held in the PDP because of the position of his father who died recently.
Flanked by many youths, Hon. Mgbada, who is noted for his critical role as a frontline youth leader in Ebonyi State said: “Governor Francis Nwifuru is one governor in Nigeria who is initiating radical infrastructural and humanitarian projects and is continuing with the projects of his predecessor.
“Nwifuru is building roads and building people without mortgaging the future of Ebonyi youths in debt. He is running an all-inclusive administration in which the life and well-being of every Ebonyi citizen across all political and ideological divides matter. There is therefore no justification for anyone, especially the entire youth constituency of Ebonyi State not to support selfless Builder Nwifuru who has been running a cost-effective administration in Ebonyi State.”
He explained that with the effluxion of time and events, especially the selfless and accommodating leadership style of Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, there was no need for any well-meaning citizen of Ebonyi State not to join hands with the governor in the new Ebonyi project.
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Mr Mgbada, fondly known as Don Laquino by his teeming admirers, was led into the arena of the event by many youths whose heroic chants electrified the entire environment and added colour to the event.
He was received into the All Progressives Congress by Ebonyi State Chairman of APC, Chief Stanley Okoro-Emeagha and members of Ebonyi State Working Committee of All Progressives Congress, into the party.
The excited State Party Chairman thanked Hon. Mgbada and his supporters for the bold step they had taken in the interest of Ebonyi State; and noted that the party was happy to receive them into the ranks of the progressives in Nigeria.
The major highlight of the event was the presentation of the broom which is the symbol of the APC to Hon. Okey Mgbada and his team.
The event was witnessed by critical stakeholders of the APC in Ebonyi State including the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Ije Moses Odunwa represented by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon Chinedu Onah, Members of Ebonyi State Executive Council, Council Chairmen, youth leaders and women groups.
