Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, has cautioned politicians seeking to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State that no one will be handed an automatic ticket or allowed to seize control of the party structure.
Speaking during an expanded stakeholders’ meeting in Enugu on Saturday, Nnaji addressed rising speculations about high-profile politicians aiming to join the party and possibly dominate its internal affairs.
He described these individuals as “politically displaced politicians” who, according to him, are lobbying in Abuja with hopes of hijacking APC in Enugu through unconventional means.
While he didn’t directly name anyone, his comments were widely interpreted as a veiled reference to Governor Peter Mbah, who is rumored to be considering joining the APC.
Nnaji made it clear that all new entrants would be required to go through the party’s nomination process.
“APC has come to stay; that is why from every nook and cranny, people want to join APC. And as we said earlier, we want people to come in, but we will not give them a free ticket; they must go to the contest,” he stated.
“Anybody who wants to run for the governorship of Enugu State, let him come to the APC, we will go to contest, we are waiting for them.”
“We want to populate the party, provided the person is going to look after the party when he gets in, we don’t have a problem.”
He went on to emphasize that no political figure, regardless of status, would be given preferential treatment.
“So, if the President of Nigeria wants to come and run for the governor of Enugu State, let him come, we will support him.”
“If the former governor of anywhere wants to join us, let him come; we will run the primaries. It will make it even easier, the primary will be the main election. So that when we finish with the primary, we know we have finished.”
Taking a swipe at the unnamed individuals considering defection, Nnaji added:
“But let me tell you, he will not enter, he is afraid, because there are too many IDPs in Enugu, Internally Displaced Politicians, many of them, they are partyless, they don’t have a party.”
“That’s why we are urging him to come, but he will not come. He is an internally displaced politician, he doesn’t have party, he is partyless, we want him to come, he will be running from pillar to post, until it is too late.”
He concluded with a note of confidence in the party’s direction and divine backing:
“But the good thing is that this our mission is being supported by the good Lord who created us, so we are heading to the government house.”
“This is part of the confusion that they will be seeing, that they will be meeting until it becomes too late for them. So, we have a focus, we know where we are going and we will keep going there.”
Nnaji also commended the leadership of the APC in Enugu State, particularly State Chairman Ugochukwu Agballah and the party’s executives from ward to state level, for their commitment and perseverance.
He promised that their dedication would not go unrewarded.
Meanwhile, three members of the House of Representatives who recently defected from the Labour Party; Hon. Sunday Umeha (Udi/Ezeagu), Hon. Chimobi Atu (Enugu North/Enugu South) and Hon. Prof. Paul Nnamchi pledged their loyalty and support to the APC, vowing to ensure the party’s victory across all levels in the 2027 elections.
Umeha recalled how he took the lead in defecting to the APC despite intense discouragement, later followed by Atu and Nnamchi.
He disclosed that additional lawmakers, including a senator, are expected to join the party soon.
Agballah affirmed that the party’s growth in Enugu State is largely due to Minister Nnaji’s personal commitment and financial support over the past year.
He urged party members to actively engage in the upcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He also stressed the importance of voter card possession:
“There will be a primary in APC, there will be proper nomination in APC,” he stated, adding that by the end of August, attending ward meetings without a voter card would no longer be accepted.
