By Gbenga Abulude (Politics and General Desk)
Ebonyi State governor, Engineer Dave Umahi has finally affirmed defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying that he has no regrets moving to the APC from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Umahi stated this in Abakaliki while speaking to journalists on his defection which has continued to cause uproar among the PDP faithfuls in the South-East region of the country.
He said he moved to the APC because of the injustice metted out to the Southeast by the PDP.
Read also:
Buhari & S’East: Arthur Eze Nails It
Tension In PDP Over Governor Umahi’s Alleged Moves To Dump Party For APC
Covid-19: Africa Records Over 380,000 Confirmed Cases – WHO
Umahi Left Our Party For Personal Reasons — PDP
Umahi also said that he has no deal with the ruling party, APC or any member of the party with regards to zoning of the presidential position to the southeast.
He said, “I want to clear the air that I didn’t ask for PDP presidential ticket and I will not. So, anybody saying that I have gone to the APC because PDP didn’t zone the PDP presidential ticket to me is being mischievous because number one is that even if PDP promises an individual a presidential ticket, how does it work when over 8,000 delegates will be electing the persons and such promise cannot happen with more than ten or twenty people? So, people are being very mischievous about that.
“Some people said I was promised this and that before joining APC, there was no such discussion. APC never promised me any position, they never promised south east any position, and there was no such discussion.
“However, I offered this movement as a protest to injustice being done to the south east by PDP. Since 1998, the south east people have supported PDP in all elections; at a time the five states in south east were all PDP. One of the founding members of PDP is from south, His Excellency Dr. Alex Ekwueme east; the late former Vice President. And so, it is absurd that since 1998 going to 2023 that southeast will never be considered to run for presidency under the ticket of the PDP, is very absurd and this is my position and it will continue to be my position, it has nothing to do with me.
Read also:
US Agrees to Help Nigeria Recover Looted Funds
Ebonyi Governor, Aides Test Positive For Covid-19
Ondo’s Battle Royale: X-raying Akeredolu, Ajayi, Jegede’s Chances This Saturday
No Room For Wike To Influence Ondo Election, Says Akeredolu
“The point is very simple. In 2023, I would have been in PDP between 23 and 24 years and south east never really supported APC the way they are supporting PDP and in that 2023, they would have been 8 years in office but it would have been about 23 years going. So, I believe strongly that the will of God will come to play but I believe that APC is amenable to working with south east from all indication, it’s amenable and I also believe that until justice and equity is implanted in this nation Nigeria, it is difficult for Nigeria to make progress.”
On Monday, The New Diplomat reported that Umahi had a meeting with the leaders of the APC over the Governor’s defection from PDP.
Chief Elias Mbam, an APC Chieftain, who spoke to newsmen on Monday noted that Ebonyi needed to join the ruling party in order to be where major decisions were being taken.
Read also:
Just In: Trump Back In White House, Takes Off Face Mask
Ondo: Saraki Again, Says INEC, Security Agencies Should Behave!
2023 Presidency Unsettles S’East PDP As Mass Defection Moves Peak
2023: Why PDP Should Shun Zoning Debate — Gov Wike
2023 Elections: Umahi Insists On Dumping PDP For APC, Defies Secondus, Others
