There are strong indications from the grapesine that Governor David Umahi may be sponsoring the member representing Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency, Edwin Nwonu for the Governorship position, to weaken the chances of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ahead of the 2023 election.
Nwonu is one of the aspirants for the governorship position on the platform of the PDP, in the state.
Sources, who spoke to NATIONAL PANEL said the lawmaker's political relationship with the Governor, which dates back to 2015, has persisted even as Umahi dumped the opposition PDP to the ruling APC.
Investigations revealed that the move by the Governor is to create division, crisis and instability in the main opposition party, thus smoothening the ground for APC's ride to power in the 2023 general elections.
The source, which spoke to the NATIONAL PANEL on condition of anonymity, observed that Umahi will not leave any stone unturned to destabilise and decapitate the main opposition party, in the state, ahead of the election.
According to the source, "The possibility that the Governor could be sponsoring someone in the PDP, other than in the APC, just to cause trouble in the main opposition party in the state is there.
"You know the Governor was in the PDP, from where he moved to the APC. And Umahi, we know cannot leave any stone unturned, to ensure that his current party ( the APC) wins in Ebonyi State. And to achieve this, one of the options he may deploy is to use someone in the PDP, to cause a crisis within it, thus giving the APC a smooth ride to victory.
"Or were you not here it was widely reported that Umahi said even though he had left PDP, he would cause a crisis in the opposition party. Anyway, the ball is currently before the PDP to play in order not to fail in this state."
Recall, Umahi, had 2020 vowed to sponsor a crisis in opposition parties to make room for a fight while he sips champagne in the comfort of his bedroom. The Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in Diaspora had then condemned the statement credited to the Governor.
Another source, who would not want his name on print, said, "If he (Umahi) is supporting the Rep member, it means he can't contest and win. This is because if you are in a different party and somebody from another party, who has just abandoned you is giving you support, it means you want to destabilise others. That is what it means. It's political sabotage.
"Everything lies on God. God is the one, who gives power. If the idea is to stop people like us and God allows it, so be it. But if God does not allow it, then no one can stop someone's destiny. Even in 2019 when I ran for Senate and the Governor used him against me, I won all the votes, except seven."
A former Commissioner for Information, in the state, Chief Abia Onyike, who is a personal friend of the lawmaker, said the insinuations were not correctly noted, however, that Governor Umahi cannot be trusted.
"It's a mere rumour and I don't believe it. The member representing Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency, Edwin Nwonu, is my personal friend. I know him. I don't believe he is working with Umahi. That, I can tell you for sure," he said.
He added, "However, Umahi does not believe in a straightforward democratic political game. He believes so much in cutting corners and so, I will not be surprised if he is said to be engaged in such a dirty political game.
"Remember that he (Umahi) had once said openly that he would create division and crisis in the opposition parties and make the opposition political parties not to have a chance in any election in the state."
The lawmaker, Honourable Nwonu, has denied he was being sponsored by Governor Umahi.
According to him, "Nobody is sponsoring me. Let me ask you one question. At my age and my level, am I not qualified to contest for the position of Governor? I have never had anything to do with the Governor since he defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
"I have not met one-on-one with Umahi since he left the PDP. Both of us only see ourselves on the television and nothing more. I know the people saying this. They are only afraid of me. They are spreading this rumour to weaken me, but I'm very focused and my eyes are on the PDP ticket and I will win it ."
Also, the Special Assistant to Governor Umahi on Media and Publicity, Mr Francis Nwaze, said the peddlers of such rumour were bereft of ideas, describing them as un-serious.
He said, "Such a thing does not exist as the governor is focused on delivering dividends of democracy to the people of Ebonyi State and his presidential ambition.
"Governor Umahi is at peace with his party, the All Progressives Congress and has no time for some very infinitesimal crop of people, who brand themselves as PDP in Ebonyi State."
