Two chieftains of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi said that the recent resignation of six local government chairmen and other leaders would not put the party into crisis.
Messrs Boniface Igwe (aka Bon – C) and Emmanuel Uka, a one-time Coordinator of the Echiele Development Centre in Ivo Local Government Area, stated this in a separate press briefing with newsmen on Monday in Abakaliki.
Reacting to the development, the party chieftains noted that the party chairmen exercised the rights granted them by the country’s Constitution, providing freedom of association.
Igwe, a strong disciple of Dr IfeanyiChukwuma Odii, the PDP governorship candidate in the March 18 election, maintained that the party was not losing any sleep following the resignation of the chairmen.
According to him, the affected chairmen were known to have allegedly worked against the party’s interest during the 2023 election; hence, their resignations did not come as a surprise to the party.
“Well, I don’t think that the news is a surprise because the concerned chairmen were known not to have worked for our party during the last general election and as such, we are not losing any sleep over this so-called resignation.
” They only confirmed what we already knew by formally tendering their resignations as party chairmen in their respective LGAs, and the party has moved on.
“We are committed in the pursuit to recover through the courts our stolen mandate freely given to the party by the Ebonyi electorate who came out in large numbers to vote AnyiChuks as their governor.
” So, this issue of resignation and planned defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is a mere distraction and as a party, we will not fall for it; we are focused on reclaiming our mandate and it’s a commitment we owe our people,” Igwe said.
Igwe described Odii as a selfless politician and leader who used his resources to positively affect the lives of the state’s citizens in many ways.
He explained that the support and solidarity displayed by the people to the governorship candidate showed their belief in his pedigree and antecedence as a selfless leader.
“As a private citizen, Odii has used his wealth and resources to lift many poor and downtrodden state citizens from poverty through economic empowerment.
“Odii is a man who wants Ebonyi youths to lead a good life; Odii through his foundation, Ebele-AnyiChuks Foundation has empowered many youths including women,” he added.
Speaking, Uka, Campaign Director of AnyiChuks Campaign Council in Ivo LGA, explained that the resignations of the six PDP LGA chairman would not affect the fortunes of the party in the state.
He particularly noted that the resignation of Mr Michael Chukwu, PDP chairman in Ivo and Reps Livinus Makwe, who represented Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency, would not affect the party in the area and Ebonyi in general.
He said: “Concerning the resignation and defection of Mr Livinus Makwe from our party, it will not affect the party in Ivo and Ebonyi because their spirit is not in PDP, only their flesh.
“So, they have succeeded by moving their flesh to where their spirits are, and it doesn’t affect the progress of PDP nor the chances of the party in winning a free and fair election in the state.
” It doesn’t affect us in any way from doing what we wish as a party to do. So, we wish them well wherever they find themselves, all we know is that PDP is a movement no one can stop.”
Uka further charged members of the party in Ivo and Ebonyi, in general, to remain steadfast and supportive of the party, assuring that PDP would emerge victorious in the disputed governorship election pending in the Appeal Court.
Meanwhile, Chief Augustine Mwazunku, PDP State chairman, has described the resignation of the six LGA party chairmen as a non-issue, explaining that the affected persons were not active and loyal party men.
Our correspondent reports that the six chairmen who tendered their resignations said the reason behind their actions was personal.
. TheWitness
