From Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki
In preparing towards his 2023 bid, the Senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, Senator Sam Ominyi Egwu has urged his supporters to disregard the rumour making rounds in some quarters especially on social media that his campaign directors in some council areas within his constituency have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Senator Egwu who refuted the rumour on Monday through a press release by his media office said he has not yet constituted his campaign council.
The release read in parts: "The attention of the Media Office of the Senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, Distinguished Senator Dr Sam Ominyi Egwu CON has been drawn to a Press Statement credited to one Mr Andrew Nwibo, a member of Izzi Nnodo Youth Forum, claiming that Senator Sam Egwu's Campaign Directors in Ebonyi and Abakaliki Local Government Areas, as well as some other Campaign team members of the Senator in the upcoming general elections, have defected to the All Progressive Congress, APC.
"While the Media Office of the Senator has confirmed to be a true report of the defection of people who are unarguable, political associates of the Distinguished Senator Sam Egwu, it is imperative to state categorically that Senator Dr Sam Ominyi Egwu CON is yet to constitute his Campaign Council, both at the Zonal and Local Government levels.
"It is therefore wrong for anybody to have referred to the defectors in the Press Statement as the Campaign Directors of the Senator Sam Egwu Campaign Council even when the Campaign Council is yet to be constituted.
"We, therefore, enjoin the public to disregard the report to the extent that the defectors were the Local Government Directors of Senator Sam Egwu Campaign Council.
"Distinguished Senator Sam Egwu will soon constitute his campaign team for the 2023 general elections and the list will be made public.
"On the said defection by his political associates, it is important to note that Senator Sam Ominyi Egwu is a strong believer in democracy whose style of politics is built around the conventionally celebrated philosophy of peace and freedom of association, including but not limited to freedom of political association and interest.
"If the defectors felt their interests are no longer protected in PDP at this time, they are adults who are also at liberty to pursue their interests wherever and however they like. That has nothing to do with the relationship cultivated over the years and will in no way affect the fortunes that will smile at the Senator in the 2023 Senatorial elections.
"The Distinguished Senator Sam Ominyi Egwu CON, therefore, wishes them well in their future political endeavours."
