Umahi to ‘dump PDP for APC over 2023 ambition’
Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi has reportedly told the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) he would be switching allegiance.
Umahi, according to reports, told chairman Uche Secondus and other members of the PDP of his “irrevocable” decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The APC, Umahi reportedly argued, is planning zone the presidency to the South-East in 2020. The governor, who is said to be eyeing the highest political office in the land, reportedly believes doing so would protest the interest of the region.
Secondus, according to Punch, confirmed the meeting which held at the Ebonyi Governor’s Lodge in Abuja on Tuesday but declined revealing other details.
He only said “national issues” were discussed.
Also present at the meeting were PDP Deputy National Secretary, Agbo Emmanuel; National Organising Secretary, Austin Akobondu; Financial Secretary, Abdullahi Maibasira; National Women Leader, Mariya Waziri and Senator Sulieman Nazif.
They reportedly tried to change Umahi’s mind to no avail.
“I think his (governor’s) mind was made up,” a source familiar with the situation said.
“We told him there was no need for him to abandon the party that had made him a deputy governor, state chairman of the party, two-time governor and all that. But he refused.
“He wanted us to unilaterally zone the office of the Presidency to his area. We cannot do that. Parties are not run that way. He told us he was leaving. That is what we got from him.’’
After Buhari, who is from the predominantly Muslim north finishes his second term, the presidency is expected to be zoned to the predominantly Christian south of Nigeria.
