Defection: You’re on your own, Ebonyi National Assembly lawmakers tell Umahi

 

Federal lawmakers from Ebonyi State on Wednesday dissociated themselves from last Tuesday’s defection of Governor Dave Umahi from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the reasons adduced by the governor as unacceptable and selfish.

Umahi had during his defection said he was leaving the PDP because of the agelong injustice meted to Ndigbo since the formation of the party in 1998.

However, addressing a news conference in Abuja, the leader of the Ebonyi State PDP caucus in the National Assembly and former governor of the state, Senator Sam Egwu, said the governor was entirely on his own as none of the lawmakers would defect with Umahi.

Egwu said though the governor had the right to join any political party of his choice, the reasons he advanced for his defection were untenable.

“We remain proud card carrying members of the PDP, the platform on which we contested elections in 2019 and won.

According to a copy of the address signed by Senator Sam Ominyi Egwu, Senator Obinna Ogba, Senator Mike Ama Nnachi, Rt. Hon. Sylvester Ogbaga, Rt. Hon. Igariwey Iduma Enwo, Rt. Hon. Chukwuma Nwazunku, Rt. Hon. Edwin Anayo and Rt. Hon. Livinus Makwe, the Governor should be the last person to jump ship having benefitted immensely from PDP in the past which included his appointment State PDP chairman, election as deputy governor and two-term governor on the platform of the party.

“We, the undersigned members of the Ebonyi State PDP caucus of the National Assembly, wish to address our fellow PDP members and other well-meaning Nigerians, on the defection of the Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi from the PDP to the APC.

“For the sake of clarity, we wish to state that not a single member of the Ebonyi State PDP caucus of the National Assembly is defecting to the APC.

“The three Distinguished Senators and five House of Representatives members remain proud card-carrying members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the platform under which we contested and won elections in 2019.

“The major reason given by Chief Umahi for defecting from the PDP to the APC is now in the Public domain which is that the PDP has not been fair to the People of the South East on the issue of zoning the Presidency and vice Presidency.

“While we support that it is the turn of the South East to fly the Presidential flag of any of the major political parties come 2023, yet we consider it impolitic, indecent and unwise to give ultimatums and conditionalities in a bid to secure zoning.

“Indeed, if there is any Ebonyi person who should remain eternally grateful to the PDP, that individual ought to be the Governor David Umahi; a man who was appointed the Ebonyi State Chairman of the PDP, made deputy governor of a PDP administration, and was elected for two terms under the banner of the PDP.

“As Governor, his two younger brothers were elected to principal offices of the PDP; one (Mr Austine Umahi) as the National Vice Chairman (South East) and another (Mr. Maxwell Umahi) as the Deputy State Chairman of the PDP.

“As democrats, we concede Chief Umahi’s right to join any political association of his choice.

“However, as Federal Lawmakers we are not unaware of the Supreme Court decision that candidates are products of political parties.

“What it means is that political office holders are not at liberty to migrate from one political platform to another, particularly when there is no division in their party.

“We wish to use this opportunity to thank the leadership of our grate party, the PDP for their prompt action in dissolving the ward, local government, state and Zonal structures of the party in Ebonyi State, and their announcement of a state caretaker team.

“We also wish to thank teeming members and supporters in our various constituencies who have remained undaunted and committed to their membership of the PDP.

“We also wish to thank the South East caucus, and indeed the entire PDP family of the National Assembly.

“The lawmakers were joined at the press conference by the Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South).”