Defection: Ebonyi Ex Reps Member, Another Commissioner Resign From Umahi’s govt, remain in PDP
As Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. David Umahi has continued to keep Ebonyians and indeed Nigerians waiting and guessing with baited breathes over his political future following rumours of his plans to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress, two serving Commissioners have resigned from his cabinet, The VOICE can authoritatively report.
A former member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Lazarus Ogbee was the first to throw in his resignation letter from office as Commissioner for Inter-governmental affairs while his counterpart, Hon. Mrs. Rebecca Ogbuewu- the Women Affairs Commissioner and wife of a PDP Chieftain in the State also reportedly followed suit.
Recall that the news about plans by the Governor, Engr. David Umahi to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress has dominated the media space in the past few days with sources in his government confirming that members of the State’s Executive Council were recently directed in a meeting convened by the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Chief Clement Nweke to proceed to their various electoral wards in the State to register into the ruling APC ahead of a mass defection rally being planned by the Governor.
It will be further recalled that Governor Umahi in a recent meeting with members of the National Working Committee of the PDP reported to have informed the Party’s leadership of his decision to quit the Party under who’s platform he’s serving a second term in office, maintaining that his decision was irrevocable.
Hon. Ogbee who was sacked by a Federal High court as a Federal Lawmaker about a year ago and was later appointed a Commissioner in Governor Umahi’s cabinet stated in his resignation letter dated 12th November, 2020 and addressed to the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, that his decision was personal as he thanked the People’s Democratic Party.
The letter read in part ” I wish to inform your Excellency that I have decided to resign as the Hon. Commissioner for Inter governmental affairs in Ebonyi state Government effective from today, Thursday 12th, November 2020.
“The reason for my resignation is personal as I thank your Excellency for the opportunity given to me to serve as a commissioner in the state” .
The Voice gathered that what prompted Ogbee’s and Ogbuewu’s resignation was their refusal during the recent Exco meeting held on Tuesday at the old Government House Abakaliki, to sign the resolution supporting the Umahi’s move to the All Progressives Congress, (APC).
A political analyst who spoke to The Voice and didn’t want his name on print said that Ogbee’s resignation will not make any impact in Ezza South despite the fact that he as he has held several sensitive political positions, he has no control over the politics of Ezza South as he has lost his relevance.
We Scooped that Ogbee is currently Romancing with the Ebonyi Abuja group who were said to have given Gov. Umahi tough time and is one of the reason for the defection of the Governor to the All Progressives Congress (APC)
An anonymous source close to the government revealed that there is an alleged intention of Gov. Umahi to control PDP even after his defection, as he hopes to sponsor the party and allegedly use the incumbent chairman of PDP in the State, Onyekachi Nwebonyi, in his favour.
” He will create crisis in PDP, PDP will not be stable and eventually what happened in Rivers state will happen to PDP in Ebonyi, and APC he will take over the structure as the leader of the party, he will take over the structure from state chairman to ward chairman” source stated.
