By Adesuwa Tsan
Last minute moves by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stop the defection of the Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has failed, 365Daily can authoritatively report.
The governor, who is already in Abuja ahead of the finalisation of his defection plans, this afternoon received a delegation of the national working committee of the PDP, led by its chairman, Uche Secondus.
Recall that 365Daily had reliably disclosed yesterday that the governor will dump the party this week.
It was gathered that the meeting with the governor, held at his residence in Abuja, was unsuccessful as the group did not succeed in reaching an agreement that will keep him in the PDP.
“He is adamant on moving to APC,” a source that spoke on condition of anonymity said when asked about the outcome of the meeting, adding, “His mind is made up.”
Umahi was elected governor twice on the platform of the PDP in 2015 and 2019. He, however, does not see a political future with the party, 365Daily was informed. In deed, it is widely believed that he has his eyes set on either running for president or vice presidency in 2023.
Others present at the meeting were deputy national secretary, Agbo Emmanuel; national organising secretary, Austin Akobondu; financial secretary, Abdullahi Maibasira; national women leader, Mariya Waziri and Senator Suleiman Nazif.
Already, the local chapter of the APC has been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the governor, describing it as a welcome development.
On October 19, 22 members of the 24-member Ebonyi State House of Assembly gave the leadership of the PDP a seven-day ultimatum to zone its 2023 presidential ticket to the South east.
A day after, the Ebonyi state chapter of the PDP served a similar notice to the party’s national leadership on the quest of the South east to take the next shot at the presidency.
The APC’s anticipated reception for Umahi was contained in a communique issued yesterday at the end of a stakeholders meeting in Abakaliki, the state capital.
It (communique) was read by former Ohaozara Local Government Area chairman, Chaka Nweze.
APC secretary in the state, John Okochi, said he was aware of discussions between Umahi and the party’s leadership in Abuja.
He said, “I am aware that there are talks between the governor and our headquarters in Abuja. But whether the discussions have been concluded or not is what I cannot say. I am, however, very sure that once that is done, the headquarters will formally communicate the state secretariat notifying us that such a person is coming as a part of us. That will enable us prepare to welcome him formally.”
When asked if it was true that Umahi had registered as an APC member in his ward, he replied: “If he has, I cannot say categorically. That is an issue within the ward or his local government which is Ohaozara. For now, the state secretariat is not aware of that.”
The top hierarchy of the People’s Democratic Party had reached out to Umahi to appeal to him to stop his defection plans from the party in late October, with the Board of Trustees and its Governors Forum making informal representations to the governor.
But all that now appears to be futile, as Governor Umahi gets set to formally dump the PDP.