...Says Party unperturbed by defection
The Ebonyi State Chairman of Social Democratic Party, (SDP), Chief Abraham Agu Okpani during the weekend said the party would lose nothing over the defection of the Gubernatorial Candidate, Rt. Hon. Ikechukwu Nwankwo to the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Ebonyi State Chairman of Social Democratic Party, (SDP), Chief Abraham Agu Okpani.
Chief Okpani told newsmen in Abakaliki while insisting that the party in the State would not be affected by the Gubernatorial Candidate's defection.
Hon. Nwankwo served as Speaker, of Ebonyi State House of Assembly for six months during Chief Martins Elechi's led administration, during which he was impeached as a serving speaker.
In August this year, he became the authentic flagbearer of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ebonyi State.
Bara ely few months after he clinched the ticket, he defected to the ruling party, declaring his support for the APC Presidential candidate, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as the gubernatorial candidate, Rt.Hon.Francis Nwifuru.
However, the SDP chairman described the ex-guber as an opportunist, who used the party to gain his way into the ruling party.
He argued that defection is for those who are confused and do not know their stands in politics.
Chief Okpani urged members of the party not to be deterred by the recent development while assuring members that the Party would not be distracted in ensuring SDP candidates emerge victorious in the 2023 general elections.
He said: “I want to use this opportunity to clear some issues, that I know are bothering members of the party. I can say that the Guber who left us for APC is now in political poverty. He is not in hell or heaven, and he is just hanging in the balance.
"He has long lost his political relevance, he was imposed on us, as the party's guber and never got involved in any of our party's activities.
"He was never a member of Ebonyi SDP.
" it is quite unfortunate that he used this party to gain his way into the ruling party.
"However, I want to assure party members not to be perturbed by the situation, as we are on top gear to ensure that all the political seats, ranging from the house of assembly to the Presidential are occupied in the forthcoming general elections " he stated.
Chief Okpani revealed that actions are in top gear to investigate and sanction members who are involved in anti-party activities.
"Those who want to decamp should decamp. We are ready to take over, we are not disturbed by their actions," he stated.
The chairman, however, appealed to party members and the electorates to make the right decision in the forthcoming general election by choosing SDP candidates because of the abysmal failure of the APC-led government in almost all sectors of the State.
Also speaking, the State Women Speaker, Youth Leader of the Party, Hon. Mrs Chidinma Eze, Hon. Raymond Egwu respectively urged the Party candidates and faithful not to be discouraged rather than intensify their campaigns, as victory is assured.
Adding "despite the setbacks, we must forge ahead. There is no going back on this race to victory, which will end in praise. We will claim all the seats from the house of assembly to Presidential seats", they affirmed.
