Factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ebonyi State, Chief Onyekachi Nwebonyi who was removed by the national leadership of the party, has opted to join the All Progressives Congress.
Declaring for the APC alongside Nwebonyi were all excos and members of his faction both at ward, Local Government Area and state levels.
Nwebonyi and the other executive members were given the boot by the national leadership of the PDP after the state governor, David Umahi defected to the APC.
A caretaker committee was set up to replace the sacked leadership but Nwebonyi and other executive members who rejected the dissolution instituted a court action against the PDP.
However, on Saturday, they announced their resignation from the PDP at Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki. They said they took the decision because there were undemocratic practices in the PDP.
A communique signed by leaders of the faction at state, Local Government Area and Ward levels, 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 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.
“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 that is already stuck on the shenanigans of a 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.”
