The former director-general of the Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu, says Governor Peter Mbah is welcome to join the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Mr Okechukwu, a foundation member of the APC, said this in a statement on Monday on behalf of the APC Foundation Members in Enugu and the South-East.

The statement responded to a statement criticising Mr Mbah’s freedom to join the APC, attributed to the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, at a meeting in Enugu on Sunday.

Mr Okechukwu noted that “anybody who wants to run for the governorship of Enugu State, let him come to the APC, we will go to contest, we are waiting for them”.

Mr Okechukwu added, “His Excellency, Dr Peter Mbah, and his group are wholeheartedly welcomed to APC Enugu State in accordance with the standard convention of our great party. Governor Mbah and his group should not be scared by anybody.”

Mr Okechukwu said that APC members are at a loss “why Nnaji, who himself is from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is chasing away the exceptionally performing Governor Mbah”.

The APC chieftain added, “For we, the foundation members, Governor Mbah should disregard our dear brother Chief Nnaji, because we want to win the Lion Building for the first time and join 23 other states to guarantee President Bola Tinubu’s victory in 2027.”

He advised Nnaji to pay more attention to his ministry.

“Otherwise, we will not allow Chief Nnaji, who came distant fourth with 14,575 votes in the gubernatorial election and fouled the atmosphere for President Tinubu with 4,722 in the 2023 presidential election, to rubbish APC again,” Mr Okechukwu said.

(NAN)