Member representing Afikpo North East State Constituency in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon Ngọzi Eziulo
‘My resignation from PDP, defection to APC letters forged,’ Ebonyi lawmaker alleges
Member representing Afikpo North East State Constituency in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Ngọzi Eziulo, Tuesday, alleged that the purported letter read on the floor of the House announcing her defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PD), as well as that renouncing her membership of the House were forged.
The first-term female lawmaker who denied writing such documents stated this while briefing Newsmen in Abakaliki, further disclosed that she is also consulting with her lawyers as to seeking legal action against the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Francis Nwifuru.
It would be recalled that the Ebonyi Speaker had read letters announcing the resignation of Eziulo as member of the House of Assembly, and also another letter announcing the lawmaker’s defection from the PDP to the APC during plenary, Monday.
Eziulo was absent during Monday’s plenary when the letters were read on the floor by the Speaker.
“I never wrote the letter and can never write such letter. I am still wondering how they came about such a letter. That letter is a forgery. If they said I have resigned, let them bring such a letter let me see it with my signature.
“I am considering legal action because that letter is forged and you know forgery is a criminal offence”.
Hon. Eziulo who further alleged that she has not been paid her salary and other entitlements since Governor David Umahi defected to the APC, said she has been under threat from other lawmakers to join the governor to the party, which, according to her, she refused.
“Ever since the Governor defected, I have not been paid my entitlement including salary. When I asked, they said their reason is that I have not joined them in APC, that once I join, they will start paying. I told them if that is the condition, I will never join and they are still holding on to it.
“My Lawyer has written them twice asking them to pay my entitlement but they have refused. In fact they have threatened to take my official car. They have also been threatening my life, by saying they will send their thugs after me all because I refused to join them.
“I don’t see any reason why I should leave my party PDP. This is a party that brought me to the House. I am somebody that will ever remain grateful to people that do me good. PDP did me well so I can’t leave the party.
“I have people that voted me into power. I didn’t vote myself into power. So I can’t just leave without their permission and approval. when the issue of defecting to the APC came up, I asked for time to consult with my constituents and stakeholders who gave me the mandate.
“I consulted them and they told me to remain in PDP, so I remained in PDP. I have a love for my people and they have a love for me. So if they said I wrote such a letter, I am saying to you here right now that I didn’t write much, it is fake. If they said I wrote and submitted it yesterday, I was in Abuja, so how is that possible?”
“I have been quiet in the house but that doesn’t mean I am weak. They should not take my quietness for weakness. I know after this, they will likely suspend me. I won’t be surprised if they do that. They have already planned to suspend me but I am not bothered. I have God and He will fight for me. Justice will always prevail in the long run.
“Since they stopped my salary and entitlements, I have been surviving because God has been providing for me through my stakeholders and party leaders who have stood by me.
“And that is the reason why I said I can’t leave the party because I have a lot of support from them. Even without being paid my salary and other entitlements, I have been attending plenary and my other legislative duties. I came to the House to provide quality Leadership to my people not for any financial gain. So I have not allowed the non-payment of my entitlements to affect my legislative duties.”
