OWERRI, Nigeria— Governor Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has appointed seven former members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as special advisers in his administration.
The appointments come after the seven officials publicly resigned from the PDP and defected to the APC.
The new appointees, who met the governor at the State House on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, expressed their desire to “join hands with Uzodinma to continue the good job he is doing in the state.”
Leading the list of appointees is Nze Ray Emeana, the former State Secretary of the PDP.
Emeana was named Special Adviser and also appointed as the Director General of the Ahiajoku Centre, a cultural and educational institute in Imo State. Other appointees include:
- Chief Martin Ejiogu: Special Adviser on Election Management
- Collins Opurozor: Special Adviser on Strategic Communication
- Comrade GOC Nwadike: Special Adviser on Media Management
- Barr Ndubuisi Mbido: Special Adviser on Oil Mineral Area/Community Engagement
- Maria Mbakwe: Special Adviser on Women Engagement
- Barr. Josiah Eze: Special Adviser on Labour (Education Matters)
In addition to the seven defecting PDP members, the governor also announced the appointment of 17 other aides, responsible for portfolios ranging from Tourism and Peace to Grassroots Women Mobilization.
Political analysts see the appointments as a strategic move by Governor Uzodinma to consolidate his grip on power by co-opting influential members from the opposition into his administration.
“By welcoming PDP members into his inner circle, Governor Uzodinma is making a clear political statement. This could weaken the opposition’s standing in the state while strengthening his own base,” said Dr. Ikenna Okafor, a political science lecturer at the Imo State University.
However, the appointments have also raised concerns about the APC’s internal coherence and long-term stability in Imo State, as the move could cause discontent among party loyalists who may feel sidelined.
“Such a large influx from an opposing party could disrupt the internal dynamics of the APC in Imo State. It’s a balancing act, and the governor has his work cut out for managing these internal politics,” added Dr. Okafor.
