Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate for governor of Ebonyi State in the 2023 election, has stated that the party is still a grassroots movement in the state.
In response to some party members defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress, or APC, Odii said that the PDP now had a chance to “genuinely restrategize” in front of the upcoming elections.
In a statement he personally approved on Friday, Odii urged PDP members and supporters to persevere in their work.
He said that rather than being disturbed, the PDP and the “Anyi Ga Emeya Movement” were concentrated on the work at hand.
Parts of the statement read, “In the last few months there has been series of defections from one party to another across various political parties in many states in Nigeria, Ebonyi State inclusive.
“The defections in some cases are a direct aftermath of the contentious 2023 general elections which shook Nigeria to its core through the various loopholes and manipulations caused by combined forces of anti-democratic elements and power mongers who tried to usurp the power of the people, in some others it is strictly driven by personal survival needs.
“In Ebonyi, a state where our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has firmly been established for over 20 years, the gale of defections also reared its head.
“Many of our party members, supporters and lovers of democracy and good governance have inundated many of our leaders, myself inclusive with calls and messages, many expressing concern on the health of our party in Ebonyi State.
“Indeed, Nigeria is a multi-party democracy where our constitution guarantees the right of everyone to belong to any legal organisation of their choice including political parties.
“In our dear PDP in Ebonyi State, many people have decided to leave and join other political parties of their choice and we do not have any intension of stopping them, it is strictly their call.
“It is important, however, that we state clearly that the PDP Family in Ebonyi State is not perturbed by these defections.
“In fact, we see a great opportunity, an opportunity to rebuild, an opportunity to re-strategise, an opportunity to form a formidable party that is focused and ready for victory.
“Our party members and supporters must understand that it is in our best interest that persons who may have been a clog in the wheels of the party voluntarily give way for genuine, patriotic, honourable and selfless members who are ready to work and build our state.”
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