Confusion, anxiety as Umahi perfects plans to join APC
*PDP May Loose Strength In Ebonyi – Analysts
By Chinwe Onwosi
Baring any last minute change, all appears set for the rumoured defection of Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. David Umahi from his People’s Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, THE VOICE can authoritatively report.
Reliable sources in Ebonyi Government House has informed that Thursday this week (November 13th) has been slated for grand events heralding his defection which they hinted will be climaxed by a massive solidarity rally in support of his decision to dump the umbrella Party for the broom- a symbol of the ruling Party.
A Party source who doubles as a critical stakeholder in the PDP claimed that Exco members have all been directed to get registered in their various wards while Ward councillors have also been directed to mobilize at least 10 supporters each who would all declare for the ruling APC alongside the Governor on Thursday.
Recall that Ebonyi has remained a traditional PDP State since the return of democracy in 1999 with Governor Umahi being one of the prime beneficiaries of the Party first; as an Acting Chairman, later substantive Chairman, Deputy Governor in 2011 before overcoming the intrigues and hair-splitting odds of internal Party politics in the PDP to flag it’s flag against his erstwhile boss to emerge the third elected Governor of the State.
The above backgrounds coupled with his consistent denials of plotting to join the APC in July 2018 in a Press conference and his recent dismissal of the news recently as false has combined to make the palpable anxiety of the reality of his eventual defection marching orders so thick that Ebonyians can almost cut through it with a knife.
The rumored defection of the Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi from his home party in PDP to APC has heated up the political scene in the state as stakeholders of both parties have been burning the candles to dot their I’s and cross their T’s.
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Though Umahi is rumored to make the official grand entrance into APC accompanied by his executive council (EXCO) members on Thursday 12th November 2020, The Voice gathered that some factions of the All Progressives Congress in the state are against the governor joining the party.
The Voice Scooped that all is now set for the massive defection from the Peoples Democratic Party into the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Members of Ebonyi State Executive Council have been invited to a meeting on Tuesday (Today) in Abakaliki to perfect the move of the governor.
The meeting of the EXCO members is sequel to a similar meeting hosted by the Speaker of Ebonyi state House of Assembly, Hon. Francis Ogbonnaya Nwifuru where all members of the House who had agreed to join the state governor to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) were prevailed upon to write an endorsement letter in their letterhead papers to that effect.
In a similar manner, the Tuesday’s meeting allegedly held at the Old Government House Abakaliki between the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Hon. Clement Nweke and the EXCO members, the cabinet members were all mandated to attend the meeting with their letterhead papers for the endorsement of the governor’s defection.
The notice of meeting, signed by the Principal Secretary to the Governor reads:
“You are please invited to a crucial meeting with the Principal Secretary to the Governor tomorrow 10th of November, 2020 at his office, Old Government House Abakaliki, Time 11am prompt. Please come with some copies of your official Letterhead as it will be required during the meeting. Treat as very important.
“Thanks
“PS-Gov.
According to a highly placed source close to Government House Abakaliki who
spoke to The Voice, “It is expected that EXCO members will at the meeting to write and sign resignation letters to be addressed to their respective PDP Ward chairmen.”
The source told The Voice that it is expected that the official defection of the Governor and his supporters will be officially executed between 15th and 20th November, 2020.
The state APC has three (3) strong factions which determines what happens in the party as event of the decamping unfolds.
Recall that The All Progressive Congress (APC) Chairman in Ebonyi, Mr Nwachukwu Eze, said the opposition party will welcome Gov. David Umahi with ‘open arms’ if his reported defection to the APC is true
A faction of the party seems to be kicking against the defection of the Governor as they feel threatened that he would hijack activities and decisions of the party once he is accepted into it.
While other factions like the Sen. Julius Ali Ucha camp supports the defection movement as at the end of a stakeholders meeting at his residence in Abakaliki, the State capital on 8th November 2020, said that the Governor will soon make public his defection from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the state to the opposition APC.
Also a member of the Sen. Ucha’s camp, the former Senator who represented Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone, Chief Anthony Agbo, commended Governor Umahi, for taking the decision to join the APC, describing the move as decisive. And urged members of the party in the state not to panic over the governor’s defection to the party, assuring them that his coming into the party will bring great fortunes to all members of the party.
