2019: Gov. Umahi deflects defection rumour, says he can’t join failed party in Ebonyi

The Governor of Ebonyi state, Chief David Umahi has debunked rumours that he is planning to defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC, stating that he can never be in the same political party with failed leaders in the state.

Umahi made this clarification while briefing journalists at the Executive Council chamber Government House, Abakaliki, the Ebonyi capital.

He cautioned people not to mistake his relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari as an indication that he was joining the APC, adding that his relationship with Buhari is personal.

Umahi stated that neither the President nor APC chieftains has ever asked him to join APC ahead of the 2019 general elections.

“The clarification is that my relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari is because he is Mr. President, and he is my boss and the relationship is personal.

“Mr. President or any APC person has never asked me to come to APC, and they will never ask me, and there is no reason for me to leave my party PDP of which I have been the party chairman, deputy governor and now governor.

“I have always insisted on character and any body who jumps from one party to another should examine his or her character, except if there is any problem within your party.

“As for today until Christ comes, there is no crisis in PDP. Even if there is a need for me to leave PDP, I can never leave PDP to join the kind of APC in Ebonyi State.

“With the kind of leaders in Ebonyi State, leaders that have failed Ebonyi State. So, I can never be on the same political platform with them.

“I am focused to do my job. I am focused in governance. I have always insisted that we should leave party politics to our party men and women. As soon as you are elected, you should focus on your job. The fever that has been griping me since the day I was elected was for me to do my job, the dividends of democracy and the plight of our people.

“So, they should leave me alone with this their dirty politics. I am focused; I am in PDP. As a member of PDP, I have benefited on the platform to be a party Chairman, to be a deputy governor, and now a Governor. I am a man of character,” he stated.