Tinubu welcomes former senate president Pius Anyim to APC

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday welcomed former Senate President Pius Anyim, who recently defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Addressing State House correspondents after being presented to Tinubu by Governor Hope Uzodinma, Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), Anyim cited national challenges as his reason for joining the APC.

“The country is passing through turbulent times and it is the duty of all patriots to ensure a peaceful atmosphere,” Anyim stated.

Anyim’s defection from PDP to APC took place in Abakaliki, Ebonyi during the grand finale of the APC Local Government Election Campaign on Saturday.

Key party figures, including Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, APC National Chairman, Governor Hope Uzodinma, Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, Senator David Umahi, Minister of Works, and Mr. Stanley Meghan, State Chairman of the party, were present to welcome him.

Senator Umahi praised Anyim for his support of the APC during the 2023 elections and highlighted the appropriateness of his formal membership. Umahi also expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his support during Umahi’s legal challenges after joining the APC.

“President Tinubu called me to come and see him, and when I came, he carried me in his car personally to meet a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who handled our case,” Umahi said.

Pius Anyim, who served as the 9th President of the Senate from 2000 to 2003, was also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. He was first elected Senator on the platform of the PDP in 1999 for the Ebonyi South constituency and was elected President of the Senate in August 2000.