Ebonyi State’s Gov Dave Umahi quits opposition PDP for the ruling APC party, citing “injustice” to the South East region.
The defection gives All Progressives Congress (APC) another foothold in region, after the Supreme Court awarded Imo State to it.
The Governor’s defection has been a subject of speculation for much of the seven years he has been in power.
He said yesterday that he quit because the PDP was not considering giving the 2023 presidential ticket to South East.
There had been suggestions that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has once again zoned the presidency to the North for the 2023 elections.
It was also speculated that APC is considering a southeastern president for 2023, with the Ebonyi Governor as frontrunner if he defects.
Umahi quickly denied that he has presidential ambition and that the APC promised him the ticket for South East.
As he put it, “APC never promised me any position, they never promised South East any position.
“I offered this movement (to APC) as a protest against the injustice being done to South East by PDP.
“That since 1998, 1999, the South East people have supported PDP in all elections. At a time, the five states were all PDP and one of the founding members of PDP is from southeast, the late Vice President, His Excellency, Dr.Alex Ekwueme.
“And so, it is absurd that from 1998 going to 2023, the South East will never be considered to run for Presidency under the ticket of PDP. This is absurd.
“This is my position and will continue to be my position,” he said.
The South East continues to be the most politically sophisticated zone, governed by three different political parties.
APC and PDP now control two States apiece in the region while APGA continues to show strength in Anambra State.
Gov. Umahi has also been a longstanding leader of South East Governors Forum.
His position as chair of the Forum is very unlikely to change since the balance of power has evened out.
PDP disbands Ebonyi party executive
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a late rally yesterday swiftly disbanded the Ebonyi State chapter of the party.
PDP also sacked the South East Caretaker executive as it seeks ways to halt a seeming erosion of its powerful regional support base.
The Committee is headed by the Governor’s immediate younger brother, Austin, who is the National Vice Chair of the PDP.
The party decisions were announced by spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, as outcome of yesterday’s emergency National Working Committee meeting in Abuja.
Title: Gov Umahi quits PDP for APC
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