Gov. Wike

Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has reacted to the defection of Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State to the Alll Progressives Congress. He said his counterpart left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to pursue his presidential ambition.

Wike’s stance was contained in a statement by Kelvin Ebiri, his Special Assistant (Media), on Tuesday. He accused Mr Umahi of being unfair to the PDP which gave him the governorship ticket in 2015 and again in 2019.

According to Wike, “Committed members of PDP were not surprised that Governor Umahi on Tuesday formally defected to the APC. My friend, Umahi, wants to be president. There is no problem about that.

“You have a right to be President. Nobody can stop you. You are educated. You have been a governor for two terms, so you are qualified to say I want to be president of Nigeria.

“But that does not mean that because you want to blackmail your party you tell , tell lies to the people that you are leaving the party because of the injustice meted against the South-East . That is not correct.”

Wike argued that under the PDP, the South-East had over the years produced Senate Presidents, National Vice Chairman of the PDP and Secretary to the Federal Government.

He also urged the PDP National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee to take steps to make sure the PDP does not die in Ebonyi State.

At a media briefing in Abakaliki on Tuesday, Governor Umahi had said his decision to dump the Peoples Democratic Party was based on his conviction that the All Progressives Congress was working in the interest of the South East zone.

He also said he was leaving the PDP because of the injustice meted out to the people of the zone despite several years of loyalty.