By CHARLES IWUOHA

Embattled factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, Barrister Onyekachi Nwebonyi, has formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Nwebonyi became embattled when the State Governor, David Umahi, left PDP for APC, which led to his removal as the PDP Chairman in the state following the dissolution of the EXCO by the national secretariat of the party.

The PDP leadership also appointed a caretaker committee led by Elder Fred Udeogu to pilot the affairs of the party in Ebonyi State.

However, the action did not go well with Nwebonyi and his executives, which led to the factionalisation of the party in the state.

Announcing their resignation and subsequent defection to APC on Saturday at Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, Barrister Nwebonyi said the decision was as a result of the undemocratic practices bedevilling PDP.

In a communiqué signed by Nwebonyi and all members of PDP State Executive Committee under his watch; all Chairmen of 13 LGA Chapters and all the Chairmen of 171 ward chapters of the PDP, the faction expressed dissatisfaction regarding its Southeast zonal leadership as well as the position of the national leadership on the issue of zoning of the 2023 presidential ticket.

They said: “It is worthy of note that the national and Zonal leadership of the party had intentionally excluded Ebonyi State Chapter from the Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) that organized the recent zonal congress of the party.

“This is in total disregard to the ruling of the Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki which recognized the elected executives of the party in Ebonyi State.

The national leadership of the party also blatantly rebuffed all efforts made by the leadership of the state chapter of the party for due process to be followed.

“We want to use this opportunity to express our dissatisfaction and rejection of the recently held Southeast Zonal Congress of the party and the stand of the party on zoning in respect of the 2023 presidential ticket.

“Daily Sun on Thursday, March 18, 2021 reported that the 2019 Election Review Committee of the PDP rejected zoning in the 2023 presidential election and recommended open bid for the party’s presidential ticket. This is a clear violation of the existing zoning arrangement of the party.

“This stand is a sabotage of the genuine efforts and unalloyed support the people of the Southeast have given for the success of the party since 1999. It has shown that the power brokers in the party are bent on marginalizing the Southeast which is contrary to the principle of federal character.

“In the light of the foregoing, we wish to express our total rejection of the anti-democratic practices in the party and therefore resign our positions as well as our membership of the party.

“We have made genuine efforts to get things done the right way but some leaders of the party are bent on using antics and gimmicks to achieve their inordinate ambitions.

“We therefore have no other option than to part ways with a party which is already stuck on the shenanigans of few overlords.

“However, we do appreciate the wonderful relationships we have had over the years but do advise the party to change its ways and embrace more democratic tenets in the conduct of party affairs. We urge South East members of PDP not to allow the zone to be deceived and disgraced,” part of the communiqué reads.

Receiving Nwebonyi and other decampees, Ebonyi APC Caretaker Chairman, Mr Stanley Okoro Emegha, thanked them for making a wise decision, and urged them to go to their various wards and register with APC.

Meanwhile, Ebonyi State PDP promptly dismissed the defection, saying that Nwebonyi had since lost his membership of PDP after his expulsion, noting that the said the resignation from the party and defection to APC was a mere jamboree.

A statement signed by the Party’s Publicity Secretary, Barr Silas Onu, called on all PDP faithful to remain resolute and focused on the responsibility of reinvigorating themselves for a successful and total take over of government come 2023.

Meanwhile, Ebonyi State Government has described the defection of the former PDP executives as an indication that everyone is leaving the party.

The State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barrister Uchenna Orji, said: “Everybody is leaving PDP.