There are speculation that the Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) may likely be officially announced this week.
On Saturday, speculation spread that the Governor had moved to the APC, even though he and his media aide had denied the move.
House of Representative member, representing Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency, Chinedu Oga, on Sunday, confirmed that Umahi had joined the APC and charged anyone in doubt to quote anywhere and at any time.
Ogah said, “Yes, Governor Umahi’s defection to our great party, the 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 the South-East to toe the line of Governor Umahi and join the APC. We have to be at the centre; we have to join mainstream politics for the overall development of our zone and the country in general.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has done well. Everybody should join the APC to encourage him.”
The rumor of the defected spread after Umahi was said to have held series of meetings with different leaders of the APC, including President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday.
A source in the Presidency, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that Umahi’s defection had been concluded and a document to that effect had been taken and filed at the “Blue Room” in Aso Rock.
The source added that the “Blue Room” is a special room in the Aso Rock, where any document or item kept there in was regarded as sacrosanct and being of utmost importance by the Presidency.
Investigation also revealed that the governor on his arrival from Abuja, where he had spent closed to two weeks, held a crucial meeting on Saturday with all the 13 local government chairmen and communicated his move to them.
There are indications that the council bosses might likely move with the governor to the ruling party.
A member of the APC and the Spokesman of Alaigbo Development Foundation, Chief Abia Onyike, confirmed that the defection of Umahi was very true.
He stated that, “Governor Umahi’s defection is very true. With the influence of people like Senator Obinna Ogba and the other National Assembly members, he appears uncomfortable in the PDP as the party can no longer give him the edge he enjoyed ab initio. That was fallout of the state congress boycotted by the Abuja group, which petitioned the national leadership of the party. So, he had no option but to look elsewhere.
“The PDP is no longer ready to allow him to produce the National Vice Chairman of the party in the yet to be organised zonal congress. He wants to be in the APC to pursue his presidential ambition.”
