By Chinwe Onwosi
Reactions are trailing the alleged defection of the governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi to the All Progressive Congress, ahead of 2023 general election.
The governor at the weekend reacted to his alleged dumping of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in a personal message on Saturday which read: “I am in PDP.”
The Voice Newspaper gathered that news of Umahi’s defection came after the member representing Ezza South/Ikwo federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chinedu Ogah, earlier today congratulated the governor for finally defecting to the All Progressive Congress, APC.
Hon. Ogah who is the only National Assembly member of Ebonyi state extraction who was elected under the platform of APC and belongs to the caucus of APC in the south east zone, confirmed the governor’s defection to APC.
He mentioned that Umahi’s defection was perfected after his meeting with several stakeholders and leaders of APC including President Muhammadu Buhari.
Ogah said: “Yes, Governor Umahi’s defection to our great party, APC is a step in the right direction. We cannot afford to remain in opposition. We must join the ruling party to continue to reap the dividends of democracy.
“I am calling on other Governors in south east to toe the line of Governor Umahi and join APC. We have to be at the center, we have to join mainstream politics for overall development of our zone and the country in general”,Ogah noted
But the governor who spoke to journalists in Abakaliki, through his Special Assistants on Media, Francis Nwaeze denied the defection.
“My attention has been drawn to the news making the round in some quarters of the media, alleging that the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi has defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC).
“The news is a product of a figment of imagination on the part of the carriers as Governor Umahi was, is, and is still flying the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“It is, however, difficult to observe how people are easily persuaded to believe in fake dummies in the name of rumours.
“If for any reason, Governor Umahi wishes to leave People Democratic Party (PDP), it will be officially communicated and can never be a product from rumour mongers” he stated.
When contacted for further reaction, the commissioner of Information and state orientation, Barr. Uchenna Orji said he is somewhere and may not be chanced to react to the defection.
Orji who insisted on seeing the lawmaker’s statement before reacting said: “send to me the report let me know what they are saying, so that I can react. I am somewhere now’’ he stated.
The state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ebonyi state chapter, Barr. Onyekachi Nwaebonyi when contacted also couldn’t pick calls or respond to text messages sent to him by our reporter for reaction.
