Exodus hits Ebonyi PDP as top members dump party

From Chinedu Nwafor, Abakaliki

Ebonyi State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been hit by a mass exodus of its chieftains and party officials.

At a press conference on Sunday, the Senator Obinna Ogba who represented Ebonyi Central Senatorial zone, former House of Representatives member who represented Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo federal constituency, Hon Livinus Makwe, Zonal Auditor of the PDP, Mr Uchenna Nwafor and 6 Local Government Area Chairmen resigned their membership of the People’s Democratic Party in Ebonyi State.

Ogba, a Governorship Aspirant in the 2023 general elections, served between 2015 to 2023 as a Senator representing Ebonyi Central Senatorial District, while Makwe served between 2019 to 2023 as House of Representatives member, Representing OHANIVO Federal Constituency.

A Labour Party Deputy Governorship candidate in Ebonyi State in the last general election, Chief Ajah Nwabueze, who was originally of the PDP before contesting under LP, has also announced his resignation from the Party.

Some immediate past State working Committee including James Alaka the organizing Secretary of the party, Mrs. Joy Igwe Ex-Officio also dumped PDP.

The six local government Chairmen of the party are: Agbom Friday of Ezza South LGA, Nwofe Philip of  lzzi LGA,  Nwobasi Ude  Chizoba of, Ohaozara LGA, Chukwu Micheal of lvo LGA,  Ifere Sunday Bright of lkwo LGA and Ndukwe Orji Okam of Edda LGA. 

The PDP bigwigs resigned from the party on Sunday saying that their resignations was personal.

The party stalwarts, however, didn’t announce their next party but speculation was that they might be heading to the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC).

Addressing journalists in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, Senator Ogba who was flanked by the PDP bigwigs and who read a resignation letter addressed to PDP Chairman Nkalagu Ward of his Ishielu local government area, said he would forever remain grateful to  the party and her leaders from ward, LGA, state, zonal to National level, but that it was  time to quit the party.

The resignation reads: “sir, this is to officially communicate to you of my resignation as a member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This will serve as an official communication to the party from Ward, LGA, State, Zonal and National level through your office.

“ This decision is personal. As an individual, I have made my modest contribution by working for the growth and development of PDP from ward to National level since its creation in August 1998 at Sharaton Hotel Abuja.

“PDP on the hand as a political party and electoral platform has Contributed positively towards the growth of my political fortunes and I will forever remain grateful to the party and her leaders from ward, LGA, state, zonal to National level, but it is time to quit. On my future Political plans and arrangements, this will be properly communicated after due consultation with my immediate family, political family and associates”.

All other officials of the party who dumped the PDP, also read their resignation letters to journalists during the press conference in Abakaliki.

Apart from the bigwigs,  PDP Youth leader Ivo LGA,  Ukah Samuel Aroh has also dumped the PDP.

In the same vein, Hon. Chukwu Cornelius (Oriokata) who contested Chairmanship election under PDP in the last local government election alongside 11 councillorship contestants in the local government have also  announced their resignation from PDP

Also, the forum of PDP former Councillors in the area  through their spokesperson Hon. Justice Uka announced their resignation from PDP.