‘Report that Umahi belongs to APC’ is untrue – Ebonyi PDP

Countering the believe and the news making the rounds that Ebonyi State Governor might be on his way to All Progressives Congress (APC), Ebonyi State Government and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday debunked media reports Governor David Umahi declared he was the only governor that belongs to the party and ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Recall that Umahi has been quoted to have said: “Stay in one place. Don’t run from here to there and from there to here. E no make sense.  If you say you dey there (APC), know I am already there. If you go to APC, I am an APC member. If you go to PDP, I am there.

“I am the only person that does anti-party and nothing will happen. Any other person that does anti-party is gone. So, I am representing you in APC while you all stay in PDP. If you like, go and write it on social media”.

Feeling that Umahi may have been quoted out of contest, Ebonyi State Government and the PDP have described the report as not only misleading but a mischievous representation of the Governor’s comment.

Clarifying what the Governor actually said, Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Uchenna Orji, the reports were untrue.

He noted the Governor only cautioned those in the habit of defecting from one political to another to also know that he has friends and goodwill across political divides.

He also said that those who hide under partisan politics to peddle lies against the State government should know that even the APC members know the giant strides and virtues of his administration.

Orji added that the Governor’s style of governance was that of inclusive politics where partisan politics comes and goes but national interest and patriotism were the uncompromising.

“In their desperate attempt to cause disaffection against the State Government, they mischievously misrepresented the Governor as saying: ‘I am the only Governor that belongs to PDP and APC.

“This blackmail is nothing but a cheap and childish fabrication that is irritably displeasing to the sensibilities of the ordinary man.

“It is a common sense that no one party member in Nigeria can belong to another political party at a time.

“The Governor never said that he belongs to APC. He is unshakably a PDP chieftain and has been a great party man, whose track records as historic State Party Chairman and currently PDP Governor and leader in Ebonyi State are known and admired by people of good will.”

The commissioner added: “He only said that those who are in the habit of hiding under partisan politics to peddle lies against the State Government were on a frolic of their own as people of different political colorations including APC know the virtues of his administration.

“It must be noted that the Governor’s style of governance is that of inclusive politics where partisan politics comes and goes but National interest and patriotism are the uncompromising principles of his administration”.

“The essence of this disclaimer is to put the records straight for the information and right knowledge of the members of the public.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also the report as a blatant falsehood.

The Chairman of the party in Ebonyi State, Mr. Onyekachi Nwebonyi, in a statement on Tuesday, dismissed the claim, saying Umahi is still a bonafide member of the party.

He said the governor does not involve in anti-party activities.

“The story is a blatant falsehood aimed at tarnishing the image of the governor and as well derailing him from his focus,” he said.

Nwebonyi said Umahi is focused on developing Ebonyi State and completing the numerous gigantic projects the government is handling.