![Emeka Ihedioha, Former governor of Imo state, Nigeria.](http://media.assettype.com/lagoslocalnews%2F2023-04%2Fd454c86d-7894-4ade-b35a-dbd723f340ae%2F8AD29D0A_6210_4C6A_9F97_D0F13CB1E9AC.jpeg?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
Former Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha, and other chieftains who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been urged by Uche Nwosu, the former Chief of Staff of ex-governor Rochas Okorocha, to join the All Progressives Congress (APC). Nwosu, the Imo State APC head, gave the former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives the assurance that he would have a unique opportunity to work with President Bola Tinubu and Governor Hope Uzodimma at the centre.
On April 23, Ihedioha made it clear that he was leaving the PDP, which he had been a part of since its founding in 1998. The politician, who identified as a PDP founding member, listed the party's failure to implement internal reforms and offer strong opposition as the grounds for leaving. He claims that the opposition party has strayed from its core principles.
A number of prominent members and chieftains have defected from the Imo PDP due to Ihedioha's actions. Charles Ugwu, the chairman of the Imo PDP, Gerald Irona, a former deputy governor, and Prof. Jude Njoku, a former education commissioner, were among those who submitted their letters of resignation.
Nwosu praised Ihedioha and the others for having the guts to resign, but he also called their departure a significant loss for the PDP. Speaking to reporters on Friday in Abuja, Nwosu urged Ihedioha and other prominent PDP figures to defect to the APC and work with Uzodimma on the advancement of the state. Additionally, the former Chief of Staff prayed that God would lead them and grant them wisdom so they would see why they should follow his lead.