Defection: No regrets moving to APC — Umahi

Ebonyi State governor David Umahi has said that he has no
regrets moving to the All Progressive Congress (APC) from the
PDP.

He stated this in Abakaliki while speaking to Journalists on the
issue of his defection which has generated ripples in the
country.

The governor said he moved to the APC because of injustice
metted out to the Southeast by the People’s Democratic Party
(PDP).

He also said that he has no deal with the APC or any member of
the party with regards to zoning of the presidential position to
the southeast.

The governor’s defection comes after weeks of speculation that
he had taken the decision to dump the opposition party for the
ruling party.

One of the reasons given by the governor for his defection is
that the South East region has suffered what he describes as
injustice in the PDP.

Umahi contested for the office of the governor in Ebonyi State
in 2015, on the platform of the PDP and won.

Upon concluding his first term, the governor won the bid to
extend his stay in office in the 2019 general elections, again as
the PDP candidate.

In 2007, Umahi led the PDP in Ebonyi in acting capacity, and
later served as the party chairman between 2009 to 2011.

Later that year, he emerged as the running mate to former Ebonyi
State Governor, Martin Elechi, and became the deputy governor after
they won the election.

While Elechi’s tenure neared conclusion, the former governor
supported a former Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, to succeed
him – a move which was rejected by Umahi.

Umahi, who accused Elechi of violating an understanding that he
would succeed him, later faced Chukwu and others in the PDP
primary.

He clinched the PDP’s governorship ticket while the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him the winner of the
2015 election after meeting the requirements to hold the
position.

Ebonyi State governor David Umahi has said that he has no
regrets moving to the All Progressive Congress (APC) from the
PDP.

He stated this in Abakaliki while speaking to Journalists on the
issue of his defection which has generated ripples in the
country.

The governor said he moved to the APC because of injustice
metted out to the Southeast by the People’s Democratic Party
(PDP).

He also said that he has no deal with the APC or any member of
the party with regards to zoning of the presidential position to
the southeast.

The governor’s defection comes after weeks of speculation that
he had taken the decision to dump the opposition party for the
ruling party.

One of the reasons given by the governor for his defection is
that the South East region has suffered what he describes as
injustice in the PDP.

Umahi contested for the office of the governor in Ebonyi State
in 2015, on the platform of the PDP and won.

Upon concluding his first term, the governor won the bid to
extend his stay in office in the 2019 general elections, again as
the PDP candidate.

In 2007, Umahi led the PDP in Ebonyi in acting capacity, and
later served as the party chairman between 2009 to 2011.

Later that year, he emerged as the running mate to former Ebonyi
State Governor, Martin Elechi, and became the deputy governor after
they won the election.

While Elechi’s tenure neared conclusion, the former governor
supported a former Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, to succeed
him – a move which was rejected by Umahi.

Umahi, who accused Elechi of violating an understanding that he
would succeed him, later faced Chukwu and others in the PDP
primary.

He clinched the PDP’s governorship ticket while the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him the winner of the
2015 election after meeting the requirements to hold the
position.