By Raphael Ekpang
Ebonyi State PDP caucus of the National Assembly on Wednesday disowned their state governor, David Umahi over his recent defection to the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Consequently, the law makers said none of the Ebonyi PDP caucus of the NASS is defecting with Umahi from the PDP to APC.
It will be recalled that on Tuesday, Gov. Umahi announced his defection to the All Progressive Congress (APC) whileas he based the decision on “marginalization” of Igbos by the PDP.
While addressing journalists in Abuja, Senator Sam Egwu on behalf of Ebonyi PDP caucus in NASS said the three Distinguished Senators and five House of Representatives members from the state remain proud card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the platform under which they contested and won elections in 2019.
According to the statement, “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 conditionality 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 the Governor, David Umahi; 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 grate 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,” the statement read.
