2023: APC will disappoint Umahi — PDP

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would disappoint Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state in the build up to the 2023 general election.

Umahi had on Tuesday, dumped the PDP and pitched tent with the APC while in his second term as governor elected on the platform of the PDP.

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There are hints that Umahi is eyeing the APC’s presidential ticket for the 2023 election and is looking for a political party that would zone its presidential ticket to the South East to enable him run.

But he dispelled the claims during his official defection, saying, “I offer this movement as a protest to the injustice being done to the South-east by the PDP since 1999 till date.”

Speaking at the 90th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the PDP held at the party’s national secretariat on Thursday in Abuja, Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin said, “I’m sorry for him.”

“The APC is going to disappoint him, but he doesn’t know, “he added.

Similarly, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus said the party cannot bow to any form of “blackmail” by Governor Umahi.

“We don’t want to join issues with the governor, but our humility as NWC members shouldn’t be taken for granted. Our strength in Ebonyi state and the entire South East is still intact. Many party stalwarts in the state refused to go with him on that personal voyage.

“Our National Assembly members from Ebonyi in both chambers are still intact; none of them left with Governor Dave Umahi,” he said.

Secondus also challenged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to present its scorecard, saying the Ebonyi state governor made a wrong move.

The PDP helmsman also called on youths in the party to be actively involved in politicking ahead of the 2023 polls, saying the PDP would accommodate them.

The closed-door meeting is in progress with 13 governors and two deputy governors, former governors, senators, NWC members, BoT members and state chairmen present.