Prof. Edeoga,
Former Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof. Hilary Edeoga, has officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State.
Edeoga, a renowned Professor of Plant Taxonomy and Cytogenetics, made the move from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he previously aspired to contest the 2023 Enugu governorship election.
The declaration took place during an emergency meeting of APC members at his Ogbuegu-Amede, Eha-Amufu Ward 4, in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, on Sunday.
Explaining his decision to join the national ruling party, Prof. Edeoga said it was driven by his desire to continue contributing meaningfully to national development.
“In Nigerian politics, it’s not the name that matters. What matters is the way one contributes to national development. It is the action of the people,” he said.
He further noted that most of his career had been at the federal level, which made aligning with the party in control of the central government a logical step.
“I’ve been a national player. The majority of my work has been at the federal level, as a teacher in a federal university and subsequently the Vice Chancellor of a federal university. So, I need to key into the federal system, and that’s why I needed to shift grounds,” he explained.
Prof. Edeoga also acknowledged the internal challenges faced by his previous party, stating:
“Again, you know that the party where I was has its internal problems. I can’t say that the Labour Party is bad or that the PDP is bad, no, I’m not that kind of a person. What I know is that wherever one finds himself, he should try and contribute to national development.”
The declaration was met with excitement and celebration among local APC members, who described Edeoga’s defection as a major boost for the party.
Welcoming him, Chief Innocent Achigbo, Chairman of APC in Eha-Amufu Ward 4, described the former VC as a “big fish” joining the party.
“We’re welcoming a big fish, a big masquerade coming from the PDP into our party, the APC. His name is Prof. Hilary Odo Edeoga. He’s an iroko coming into the APC. From today (Sunday), he is no longer a member of the PDP but APC,” he said.
Achigbo added that the emergency meeting was specially convened to honour Prof. Edeoga and others who joined with him.
“This meeting is just for his coming into our party and so, from now henceforth, he has become a member of the APC. Today is a great day in our ward. We’re excited because he is a big fish, a great fish that has come into the party. He will add great colour to the APC. He is a man who likes to support. I’m sure that henceforth he will boost the party in the ward, in the local government, and even in the state.”
Echoing the excitement, Mr. Okwudili Eze, Assistant Secretary of APC in Isi-Uzo Local Government, praised Edeoga’s political relevance and influence.
“Prof. Edeoga is a great son of Amede. We respect him so much. He is somebody that has impacted so many lives. He is a big fish, and we regard him highly. We are happy that he is coming into our party and he is very much welcome.”
“He’s going to add a lot to the party because he is loved by the people, he has followers, and he will help the party to grow,” Eze concluded.
