By Peter Okutu

ABAKALIKI — THE Coalition of Ebonyi State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidates for the 2015 general elections, weekend, alleged that Governor Martin Elechi’s support for the decampment of PDP faithful to Labour Party was an attempt to reverse the gains of the PDP in the state since 1999.

The group described the governor’s decision and present political status as an act of sabotage and unbridled ingratitude, having served two terms as governor on the platform of PDP.

But reacting, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Onyekachi Eni denied the claim that the governor was sabotaging the PDP, noting that Governor Elechi had ensured that Ebonyi remained a PDP state as the party had stabilised in the state.
Meanwhile, according to them, Governor Elechi’s support for his in-law, Chief Edward Nkwegu from Ebonyi North senatorial district to run as the LP gubernatorial candidate was a reflection of his insincerity to zone the governorship position to the South where Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu hailed from.

In a statement by 33 candidates of the PDP, including former governor Sam Egwu, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Chukwuma Nwazunku, Sylvester Ogbaga, among others, the candidates recalled that under Governor Elechi’s watch many PDP faithful had left the party to join the opposition because of his self-imposing leadership style.

“Although, it smacks of unbridled ingratitude for a two term governor who came into office on the platform of PDP to turn round to sabotage that very platform, the truth of the matter is that since Governor Elechi was drafted into the PDP from ANPP in 2007 to contest the governorship election, the party has not known peace, and its fortunes have continued to dwindle.”
“However, the out-going governor has chosen to be on the wrong side of history.

“What is most surprising is that the same Governor Elechi, who a few weeks ago was singing to the whole world that the governorship position should be zoned to the South, has suddenly eaten his own words.