Imo Rep. dumps PDP for APP, cites leadership crisis
Picture shows supporters of Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere representing Ideato North and South at a rally where the lawmaker defected from the PDP to APP on Wednesday at Akokwa, Imo
Defection
By Peter Okolie
Akokwa (Imo), Jan. 7, 2026 (NAN) Mr Ikenga Ugochinyere, representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo, on Wednesday formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Action People’s Party (APP).
Ugochinyere told a large crowd at a rally held in Akokwa, Ideato South LGA, that “irreconcilable differences” within the national leadership of his former party led to his defection.
“From day one we started with PDP till this afternoon, we are still in court,” he told supporters.
He claimed his troubles began when the PDP disqualified him from primaries and later sought a court order to declare his seat vacant.
He alleged that the party failed to support him during “periods of intense political hostility and physical attacks on his property.”
“Our party never gave us support, not even a statement,” he remarked, noting that his billboards were destroyed and supporters arrested.
The lawmaker revealed he survived assassination attempts and faced 28 “trumped-up charges” intended to derail his legislative career.
“In spite of evidence provided to security agencies on the Jan. 13, 2023, attack and destruction of my property, nothing has been done to prosecute the perpetrators.
“We have faced both internal and external enemies,” he noted.
He accused the PDP of failing to listen to warnings regarding internal dangers, leading to his exit to a “stable platform.”
“There’s no other stable platform in Nigeria today except the APP,” Ugochinyere stated during the rally.
He described the APP as a “party that rewards hard work with electoral victory and a party that defends the sanctity of ballot box at all cost.”
The representative member also directed a stern warning to the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, advising him to retract steps that could destroy his career.
He specifically cautioned Wike against “talking down” on the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, describing the action as a “red line.”
“I urge President Bola Tinubu to call Wike to order,” he added, citing the need for political decorum.
Ugochinyere vowed to seek international intervention regarding alleged atrocities and human rights abuses recorded within the state.
Speaking on the development in Venezuela, the lawmaker further appreciated international intervention in countries where democracy was under threat.
He, therefore, urged the Inspector-General of Police and other security chiefs to turn their attention to Imo over the allegations of political hostility and physical attacks on him and his supporters.
Earlier, the APP governorship aspirant in the state, Mr Chima Amadi, praised Ugochinyere’s courage, describing the rally as a stand against “political Defection
By Peter Okolie
Akokwa (Imo), Jan. 7, 2026 (NAN) Mr Ikenga Ugochinyere, the lawmaker representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo, on Wednesday, formally dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Action Peoples Party (APP).
Ugochinyere told a large crowd at a rally held in Akokwa, Ideato South LGA, that “irreconcilable differences” within the national leadership of his former party led to his defection.
“From day one we started with PDP until this afternoon, we are still in court,” he told supporters.
He claimed his troubles began when the PDP disqualified him from primaries and later sought a court order to declare his seat vacant.
He alleged that the party failed to support him during “periods of intense political hostility and physical attacks on his property.
“Our party never gave us support, not even a statement,” he said, adding that his billboards were destroyed and supporters arrested.
The lawmaker said he survived assassination attempts and faced 28 “trumped-up charges”, intended to derail his legislative career.
“In spite of evidence provided to security agencies on the Jan. 13, 2023 attack and destruction of my property, nothing has been done to prosecute the perpetrators.
“We have faced both internal and external enemies,” he said.
He accused the PDP of failing to listen to warnings regarding internal dangers, leading to his exit to a “stable platform”.
“There’s no other stable platform in Nigeria today except the APP,” Ugochinyere said.
He described APP as a “party that rewards hard work with electoral victory and defends the sanctity of ballot box at all cost”.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker has issued a stern warning to the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, advising him to stop “talking down” on the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, describing the action as a “red line.”
“I urge President Bola Tinubu to call Wike to order,” he said, citing the need for political decorum.
Ugochinyere vowed to seek international intervention regarding alleged atrocities and human rights abuses recorded within the state.
Speaking on the development in Venezuela, the lawmaker further appreciated international intervention in countries where democracy was under threat.
He, therefore, urged the Inspector-General of Police and other security chiefs to turn their attention to Imo over the allegations of political hostility and physical attacks on him and his supporters.
Earlier, the APP governorship aspirant in the state, Mr Chima Amadi, praised Ugochinyere’s courage, describing the rally as a stand against “political oppression and tyranny.”
Amadi urged residents to participate in the continuous voter registration to help the party “regain the state” from the ruling government.
Also speaking, a PDP Board of Trustees member, Mr Rufus Omeire, said he attended the rally in solidarity with Ikenga.
Omeire called on opposition political parties to unite against the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
OPC/OJI/USO
Edited by Maureen Ojinaka