The All Progressives Congress (APC) is excited about the incursion of the ruling party into the hitherto difficult South-East, declaring that the zone is now melting into APC.

Chairman Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Governor Mai Mala Buni, said this on Monday in Abuja at the inauguration of members of the party’s national reconciliation committee.

“Today, the South-East geo-political zone, hitherto referred to as the stronghold of opposition parties, is gradually melting into the APC and increasing the fortunes of APC to remain Nigeria’s leading political party,” he said.

The South-East is made up of five states – Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra and Abia.

Of the five states, APC governs Imo and Ebonyi while PDP maintains its grip on Enugu and Abia. Anambra is being ruled by APGA but there have been massive defections to the APC ahead of the governorship election.

The Yobe State governor is excited with the growing defection from opposition parties to APC.

He said: “It is heartwarming that by the grace of God, and with the support and cooperation enjoyed from all party members, three sitting Governors of Ebonyi State, Mr. Dave Umahi, Cross River State Prof. Ben Ayade and Zamfara State Bello Matawalle as well as members of their State Assemblies, two former Speakers of the House of Representatives – Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Hon. Dimeji Bankole – and former National Chairmen of other political parties have joined the APC.

“Similarly, numerous Senators and Members of the Federal House of Representatives, state legislators, chieftains and members of Board of Trustees of the opposition party and their supporters have also joined the APC.

“Worthy of mention is Anambra State where we are about to hold the governorship election. We have recently received five serving, and four former members of the House of Representatives, nine members of the state assembly and chieftains of PDP and APGA into the APC, paving way to our victory in the November Anambra governorship election.

“The Membership Registration and Revalidation Exercise carried out by the party is of course, another major milestone achievement for the party. It was a crucial tool in the recovery of the party. Over 40 million members were registered while the process is still on-going. It provided existing and new members with a sense of belonging and ownership of the party. I congratulate all stakeholders, women and youth for the active roles they played towards the success of the exercise.”

The party tasked the reconciliation committee to: Conduct appropriate engagement between identified groups in each state where there are disputes with a view to bringing about genuine reconciliation and establishing lasting peace and unity in the party.

The APC National Reconciliation Committee is led by former Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu with Otunba Moses Alake Adeyemo as Secretary.

Other members are Sen. George Akume, H.E. Sullivan Chime, H.E. Ali Saad Birnin Kudu, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Alh. Suleiman Argungu, Dr. Mrs. Oluranti I. Adebule and Dr. Mrs. Beta Edu.