Two days to commencement of Nigeria’s rescheduled national elections, the Advanced Alliance Party’s governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Ogbonnaya Okorie, has dumped his party and ambition to join forces with the Peoples Democratic Party towards ensuring the re-election of Governor David Umahi.
The candidate was the only governorship candidate of another political party in the State who featured against Umahi in a governorship debate organised by the Igbo Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation on February 3.
Briefing newsmen on Thursday at the Government House, Abakaliki, the AAP candidate said his decision was informed by the obvious excellent performance of Governor Umahi in all sectors of development as well as his disposition to peace and accommodation of diverse opinions and tolerance for opposition.
He stressed that he was never coerced or lobbied in any form to join the PDP, adding that it was borne out of wide consultation with his party, his kith and kin and political associates both at home and in diaspora.
Describing Umahi as a listening leader, Okorie maintained that the Governor had addressed all issues he raised against him during the debate and called on other governorship candidates of other political parties to join forces with the PDP in ensuring the emergence of the incumbent in the March 9 elections.
The former candidate seized the occasion to request Umahi to retain for his campaigns the sum of N10 million he promised to donate to assist his ambition during the debate, adding that he would make additional personal donation to help actualize the Governor’s return come March 9.
Okorie explained: “That after due consultations and in consideration of the achievements of the incumbent Governor, His Excellency, David Umahi, I have resigned my membership of my party, Advanced Allied Party, and to throw my support and supporters to join the Peoples Democratic Party.
“After critically appraising the developmental strides of the Governor, I decided to resign as a member of AAP and her governorship candidate to support the Governor of the State to do more.
“Gentlemen, my decision to resign from my Party to join the PDP alongside my teeming supporters was informed by the disposition of the Governor to accommodate all manner of people and his tolerance for opposition.
“I was never forced or cornered to join the PDP, rather it was my own decision backed by evidence of the leadership the Governor has provided.
“In the course of my debate with the Governor, he did promise to give me N10 million for my election and I hereby urge the Governor to add the money to his campaign while I will make my personal donation towards the election of Governor David Umahi come March 9th, 2019.”
Okorie urged the youths to refrain from all forms of violence and shun any form of political thuggery, adding: “Nobody’s political ambition is worth anybody’s blood.”