One of the prominent politicians in Imo state, Chief Sam Ejiogu, popularly known as Akaraka, has said that credit should be given to multi-billionaire businessman, Myke Ikoku whom he said facilitated the mass defection of former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, members into the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Imo state.

Akaraka said the defected members had gone into several meetings at the instance of Myke Ikoku where they were lobbied into the progressive’s family.

Recall that on Thursday last week, former Chairman of Imo PDP, Chief Barr Charles Babatunde Ezekwem and eleven other former state working Committee members of PDP, two former South-East Zonal officers of PDP, 12 former LGA Chairmen of PDP among other leaders defected to the APC.

This was described as a welcome development by progressive’s party members hence, the insistence by Akaraka that credit is given to Ikoku.

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In a chat, Chief Akaraka revealed that the credit of the success of the defection should go directly to no other person than Evang Myke Ikoku whom he said effected the defection but decided to be behind the scene.

Chief Akaraka thanked Myke Ikoku and Chief Rex Anunobi (Sokom) “for all their efforts and several meetings they called that finally led to the actualisation of the defection that took place on Thursday at the APC office, Owerri” which he said started since late February this year, adding that “Evang Ikoku has actually demonstrated that he is a go-getter and a man who loves Governor Hope Uzodinma and wants his government to succeed.”

He said the defection has given a defeating blow to the PDP in the state, noting that “henceforth, nobody can take him for a ride in Imo state politics.” “I want to personally thank Evang. Myke Ikoku and Bar Rex Anunobi for a job well done,” he said.

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, yesterday met with eight governors of the party over the impending governorship primaries for Edo and Ondo States, promising to prevail on the party’s national leadership to ensure a fair process.

The governors, who represented their colleagues on the APC platform were the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Senator Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Alhaji Sani Bello (Niger), Muhammad Abubakar (Jigawa), Mr.

Solomon Lalong (Plateau), Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun), Mr. Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo) and their host, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Sources close to the meeting held at the Old Lagos Government House, Marina, Lagos said the governors discussed the primaries for the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States and proposed to grant the incumbents, Obaseki and Akeredolu, the right of first refusal.

But Tinubu was said to have responded that ordinarily, he would not have been opposed to that. However, he reportedly pointed out to them that once other APC members indicate interest, the democratic thing to do in the circumstances would be to allow the primaries to hold.

He reportedly told them it would be difficult to hold down the ambition of other party faithful, advising them to come to terms with the possibility of intra-party contests in the two states.

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The sources close to the meeting said there were discussions around the mode of primaries with the governors favouring the indirect process. But the national leader was said to have told them to recognise the constitutional right of the National Working Committee (NWC) to organise the primaries, stating firmly that he personally had always preferred the direct mode of selecting the party’s candidates.

Citing the presidential primaries that produced President Muhammadu Buhari as well as Oyetola in Osun and Sanwo-Olu in Lagos, Tinubu reportedly said the direct primaries give the candidates and the party the opportunity to test their electoral machinery and popularity, saying once a candidate emerges through that process, the general election becomes much easier.

He, however, assured them that whichever one the national secretariat of the party approves, he would prevail on the leadership to ensure that the process is free and fair to all the aspirants.

The governors were said to have thanked the national leader for granting them an audience and for assuring them of the fairness of the process of the primaries to be held this month in Edo and next month in Ondo.

THISDAY gathered that the governors may meet with President Buhari today or later in the week at the Presidential Villa in Abuja to discuss the Edo and Ondo elections.

Both Obaseki and Akeredolu are having strong opposition in their respective states and preferred the indirect primaries mode because of the distinctive advantage, it has for the incumbent. But their opponents preferred the direct primaries, a preference that also has the approval of the Adams Oshiomhole-led NWC, at least for the Edo contest.