Ganduje received Anyim who was the political heavyweight of the People's Democratic Party, PDP with his thousands of his supporters, during the grand finale of the APC rally for the upcoming local government chairmanship and ward councilorship elections at Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.
Also, received to the APC by Ganduje was the 2023 gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party, LP in Ebonyi State, Arc Edward Nkwegu (EDON) with the critical stakeholders of the party and their loyalists.
The National APC boss equally received a two term Federal lawmaker at the Senate and the 2023 PDP gubernatorial aspirant in Ebonyi, Senator Obinna Ogba with his supporters alongside the stakeholders and members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and other opposition parties in the state.
Speaking during the event, Ganduje commended the state governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru for the good working relationship between him and the Ebonyi stakeholders especially his Predecessor, Senator David Umahi and other former governors of the state.
"As a leader of the party in the country, I want to congratulate you and the former Secretary to Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim who is today defecting into the largest political party in Africa, this has brought good atmosphere and peaceful environment to the people of Ebonyi state," he said.
He further observed that with the level of defection seen in Ebony State during the event, the South East region of the country would be completely integrated into national politics.
He argued that the continuity of the APC in South East would be the part of the development especially in the area of infrastructural facilities and reassured the party's agenda to bring good governance through the people of Ebonyi and South East region of country at large.
"This continuity is the part of the development especially infrastructural facilities which are also the part of good governance through the people of Ebonyi State and South East zone at large.
"With this kind of massive defection in Ebonyi, South East zone would be completely removed from marginalization and expanded for more political participation at the national level.
"Let me remarkably commend Anyim Pius Anyim and his supporters for joining All Progressives Congress, APC today and this is a big fish not only a big fish but a shark fish," Gaduje said.
Earlier, the State Governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru described the defection of Anyim and other members of the opposition parties to the APC as another milestone marking greater achievements in his party (APC) in Ebonyi.
Nwifuru, however, commended the National APC Chairman for being present to receive the defectors, noting that it was the massive movement for the practical manifestation of the Renewed Hope Agenda by President Bola Tinubu in the country, particularly the state.
The governor further lauded the decision of the former Secretary to Government of the Federation, Anyim for taken a bold step to consolidate on his administration to join APC in the state to build the idea of sustainable development for Ebonyi people.
It could be recalled that the mass exodus to the ruling APC in Ebonyi included different chieftains and strong political stakeholders of the opposition parties especially the LP, PDP and APGA members who had occupied both elective and appointive positions with their loyalists in the state.
Most of defectors who spoke on behalf of their members including Anyim, Nkwegu, Ogba among others said they joined the rulling APC in Ebonyi, following Governor Nwifuru's leadership style which, according to them, has united the Ebonyi stakeholders and other citizens, stressing that his provision of an enabling environment for the residents of the state remained laudable.
