Politics

How Nigerian Senators Convened in London to Finalize Defection Plan – Lawmaker Reveals

Published by Tope Fakinlede on November 20th, 2024.

How Nigerian Senators Convened in London to Finalize Defection Plan – Lawmaker Reveals

Imo West Senator, Osita Izunaso, has revealed that he attended a meeting in London where the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah of Anambra South assured Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, that he would be joining the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Izunaso made the statement during a tribute session held by the Senate to honor the late Ubah on Tuesday. According to him, the meeting in London was a key moment in Ubah’s decision to defect from the Young Progressives Party (YPP) to the ruling APC.

The senator shared the details of the London agreement, where Ubah confirmed his intention to join APC despite ongoing legal matters. “When Ifeanyi Ubah was preparing to join our party, he invited me to London to witness the meeting. During that session, Mr. President (Akpabio) asked Ubah two critical questions: ‘Are you sure about joining the APC?’ and ‘Are you going to wait until your court issues are resolved before making the move?’ Ubah firmly responded, ‘No, I will join APC.’ This was the deal, and it was settled there. Mr. President assured that once back in Nigeria, he would inform the Commander-in-Chief of Ubah’s decision to join APC,” Izunaso recalled.

He added that Ubah stayed true to his word, and in a short time, he officially joined APC, significantly strengthening the party’s presence in Anambra State. “That was the kind of person Ifeanyi Ubah was,” Izunaso said.

Ubah officially defected to the APC in October 2023, making him the only senator from the YPP at the time. His defection increased APC’s numbers in the Senate, consolidating its majority.

Izunaso’s reference to a “popular London meeting” suggests that this particular gathering was part of a series of similar meetings held in the UK. Such meetings are not uncommon among Nigerian politicians, including senators, governors, and even the president, often involving discussions of political strategy.

It was also noted that Ubah had legal issues involving his company, Capital Oil, which had been accused of owing N135 billion to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). However, the charges against him were dismissed by a Lagos court in October 2023 after AMCON withdrew its case.

A Friendly Colleague

In his tribute, Senator Izunaso also shared personal memories of his friendship with Ubah. “Ifeanyi Ubah was not just a colleague but also my neighbor in the Senate. Our offices were next to each other, and I often stopped by to greet him,” Izunaso said.

He recalled an instance when Ubah introduced him to several committees he chaired, including the Downstream Turnaround Maintenance Committee. “I didn’t know then that just a month later, Ifeanyi would no longer be with us. He took me to both the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries. After a visit to the Warri refinery, I addressed the press, and Ubah later asked why I spoke on his behalf. I told him it was because I did it for him, and he simply said, ‘Okay, brother.’ That was the kind of person he was,”Izunaso reflected.