A Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in the March 18, 2023 elections in Ebonyi State, Dr Ifeanyi Odii, has said the party was not dislodged and remained intact amid defections of members currently in the state.
He said the leadership of the party in the state was poised to take advantage of the current development.
He added that those who left the party were driven by “personal survival needs.”
The former PDP candidate, who stated this in his Easter Message to Ebonyi PDP faithful, said, “In the last few months, there has been series of defections from one party to another across various political parties in many states in Nigeria, Ebonyi State inclusive.
“The defections in some cases are a direct aftermath of the contentious 2023 general elections which shook Nigeria to its core through the various loopholes and manipulations caused by combined forces of anti-democratic elements and power mongers who tried to usurp the power of the people. In some others, it is strictly driven by personal survival needs.
“In Ebonyi, a state where our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, has firmly been established for over 20 years, the gale of defections also reared its head.
“Many of our party members, supporters, and lovers of democracy and good governance have inundated many of our leaders, myself inclusive with calls and messages, many expressing concern on the health of our party in Ebonyi State. Indeed, Nigeria is a multi-party democracy where our constitution guarantees the right of everyone to belong to any legal organisation of their choice, including political parties.
“In our dear PDP in Ebonyi State, many people have decided to leave and join other political parties of their choice, and we do not have any intention of stopping them. It is strictly their call.
“It is important, however, that we state clearly that the PDP family in Ebonyi State is not perturbed by these defections. In fact, we see a great opportunity to rebuild, an opportunity to re-strategise, an opportunity to form a formidable party that is focused and ready for victory.”
He said it was in the interest of the party that those who hitherto constituted a clog in the wheel of its progress, left for genuine and committed members to rebuild and take back the PDP in the state.
He added, “Our party members and supporters must understand that it is in our best interest that persons who may have been a clog in the wheels of the party voluntarily give way for genuine, patriotic, honourable and selfless members who are ready to work and build our state.
“There is no doubt that the PDP is organically ingrained at the grassroots in Ebonyi State, and the people are eager that the party groom genuine members who will stand by the ideals of our great party which is clearly rooted in our motto: “Power to The People”.
“There is no doubt that the emergence of credible people in leadership as witnessed in the Obidient Movement during the 2023 general election and the victory of the Senegalese new President-elect, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, indicate clearly that the peoples’ power trumps political parties or even government in power. It is established that the power resides in the people and the people alone.
“I therefore call on all members of our great party and supporters of the Anyi’Ga Emeya Movement to be rest assured that we remain on the ground and we remain focused. We are determined to take advantage of the opportunities being presented already to rejig our party for the task ahead.”
