The former interim leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, Nwele Peter Onyemaechi, has issued a strong warning to certain party members who are opposing the newly formed caretaker committee.
These members, including Senator Igwe Nwagu and Senator Michael Ama Nnachi, have raised concerns about including former party members who defected to the APC.
Onyemaechi, however, argues that the complaining group already has nine names on the caretaker list. At the same time, Senator Dr. Sam Egwu and Hon. Idu Igariwey, as party stakeholders, were allowed to nominate one name each.
“I fail to comprehend their fretting and excessive noise. The National Working Committee, in its wisdom, is striving to promote peace and facilitate a round table discussion by advocating for nominees from each local government – one person from each local government, totaling thirteen.
“Yet, they went behind our backs and made all the nominations themselves. When other stakeholders raised concerns, the NWC rightly stated that the NVC should nominate from his local government, as well as Senator Dr. Sam Egwu, the party leader and former governor, and Idu Igariwey, the only person who survived the Obidient movement and won his election.
“Out of these thirteen nominees, they put forward four, while those who are shouting foul play have nine. What are they even talking about and why are they so afraid? It is simply a display of greed and the anxiety to execute their preconceived plan.
Otherwise, how can our candidate for the 2023 gubernatorial election be an appointee of the Lagos State APC government?
“He has always been a member of the governing board of the Lagos State University, making him the first known Igbo man to hold such a position.
The records speak for themselves. He is an appointee of the Lagos State APC, so what is he doing meddling in Ebonyi politics?
“His emergence as a governorship candidate in 2023 led to the exit of prominent party members, including Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, former President of the Senate and former Secretary to the Government of the federal republic; Senator Obinna Ogba, who has held various party positions; Sylvester Ogbaga, a four-time member of the House of Representatives, former House of Assembly members, and many others.
“He forcefully maneuvered his way to secure the party ticket, but what was the result? How many votes did he manage to gather? He narrowly won in only one local government, while losing in the rest because he violated the principle of rotation in the governorship of Ebonyi State. The outcome was clear, yet they wanted to repeat the same mistake.
“Our party stands for one thing – power to the people. We should allow the people to choose their representatives. But every time, he resorts to the courts, thinking that his financial resources give him an advantage.
He even boasts that no Ebonyi man has access to the financial resources available to him. We wish him good luck. All we know is that our party will emerge stronger.
“At the moment, we are actively engaged in a party membership drive as directed by the NWC through the ZWC. This is what every state in the southeast, including Ebonyi, is doing. It’s just a mere distraction aimed at weakening the party ahead of the 2027 general election.
“We remain focused, and the party remains committed. Although I am no longer the caretaker chairman, I am still a loyal party member. I respect and abide by the decisions of the party because they are supreme. I will continue to support my party regardless,” he Stated.
