Defection: Ebonyi senators, reps disown Umahi
Members from Ebonyi State Caucus, on Wednesday, disowned Governor David Umahi for defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Umahi had on Tuesday formally announced his defection from the PDP to the APC.
The leader of the Ebonyi State PDP caucus in the national parliament, Senator Sam Egwu, who read the position of his colleagues at a press conference in Abuja, said though Umahi has the right to join any political party of his choice, the reasons he advanced for his defection were untenable
He added that none of the lawmakers would defect with Umahi. He said the National Assembly members from the state, would not abandon the PDP because of Umahi.
“We remain proud card carrying members of the PDP, the platform on which we contested elections in 2019 and won.
Senator Obinna Ogba was in attendance of the briefing as well as all the Ebonyi State federal legislators.
Senator Mike Ama Nnachi, Sylvester Ogbaga, Igariwey Iduma Enwo, Chukwuma Nwazunku, Edwin Anayo and Livinus Makwe
The Senate Minority Leader Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe was also at the event to show solidarity.
Egwu faulted Umahi for accusing the PDP leadership of being unfair to the South-East geopolitical zone.
Daily Times reports that, he also accused the governor of being an ingrate, claiming that the man had benefitted immensely from the PDP.
Egwu said, “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.
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“The three distinguished senators and five House of Representatives members remain proud card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party, the platform under which we contested and won elections in 2019.
“The major reason given by 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 Governor David Umahi.
“This is 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 great 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,” he added.
