A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Ebnyi State, Chief Charles Akpu-Enika has ahead of the 2019 general election said Ndigbo Will no longer vote according to party patterns but will vote according to the interest of the people of the south east zone.
Akpu-Enika who is the commissioner for youths and sports Development in Ebonyi state made this known while in a chat with journalists in Abakaliki.
He noted that the defeat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 18th 2017 governorship election in Anambra state is an affirmation of change of voting pattern by the people of the South East geopolitical zone.
The commissioner said that the era of using the youths for violent political gains were over because the voters have resolved to vote as would benefit their interests, more so that elections would no longer depend only on political party affiliation but on the interest of the people of the South East zone.
Akpu-Enika, who hails from Anambra state said that the APC in the zone has been weakened by the outcome of the Anambra election, adding that the worst hit is the Ebonyi state chapter of the party which had earlier been rocked by leadership tussles that gave birth to various factions.
He noted that it was unfortunate that some opposition elements in Ebonyi state were raising issues as to the relationship between the state governor, David Umahi and President Muhammad Buhari who was recently in the state on a two-day working visit, saying that it would amount to disservice to Ebonyi state if the governor embarked on unprofitable and unnecessarily confrontation of the presidency.
“ As far as I am concerned for anyone to say that the relationship of Governor Umahi and the President is desperate political move to the APC is rather expression of fear, jealousy and failure of the uninformed opposition elements in Ebonyi state who have closed their eyes and ears to the gains of the relationship to the interest of Ebonyi state”.
“Constructive critics could at least shut up their mouth or at best applaud Umahi for keeping strong and unstoppable, the Ebonyi state branch of the PDP, yet having cordial relationship with the federal authorities.
“Those parading as opposition politicians have continued to labor in vain trying to pitch the governor against his kinsman, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu without knowing that these men know better than them”.
Akpu-Enika explained that the defection of the immediate past governor, Chief Martin Elechi to the APC is a relief to the PDP, “We now breathe fresh air. Some politicians are rather, baggage who would add no electoral value. Pocket of APC members in Ebonyi could be more of people seeking board appointments”.
“Even as everyone is entitled to choice of political party, the hateful kind of opposition by a few persons in the state is undeserving of a government that has done so much for its people and none indigenes in the state. In the past, it was unimaginable, almost a taboo appointing Hausa man Technical Assistant to the Governor in Ebonyi,” he stated.
