From Jude Chinedu, Enugu

A group of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Enugu State, under the aegis of the Concerned PDP Stakeholders Forum, has declared unwavering loyalty to the party amidst speculations that Governor Peter Mbah might defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The stakeholders made their position known on Friday, during a press briefing in Enugu, following a strategic meeting.

Led by Okey Ozoani, immediate past PDP vice chairman in the state, the group stressed that were founding members and grassroots leaders committed to keeping the PDP intact.

“We are deeply concerned about recent defections to other political parties, especially the ADC. Our mission is to rekindle faith in the PDP. Enugu has been a PDP state since 1998, and we won’t sit back and watch it be balkanised,” Ozoani said. He criticised recent defections, including that of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and accused some party leaders of engineering internal crises only to abandon ship.

“We remain firm. The PDP is intact and will win the coming elections. It’s difficult to convince Enugu people to support another party because PDP is in their DNA,” he said.

Ozoani also addressed the controversy over the party’s national secretary position, defending Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s legitimacy. He blamed those now defecting for fuelling the crisis and attempting to destabilise the party from within.

Reacting to threats by some South-East PDP members to quit the party if Sunday Ude-Okoye wasn’t appointed national secretary, he said: “That stance is unjustifiable. The South-East already occupies significant national positions in the PDP. If Enugu also gets the national secretary slot, what’s left for Imo?”

On the rumoured defection of Governor Mbah to the APC, he said: “It remains speculation. If it happens, many of us will remain in the PDP. Not everyone will follow him.”

The post Enugu PDP stakeholders dismiss defection rumour, pledge loyalty to party appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.

From Jude Chinedu, Enugu

A group of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Enugu State, under the aegis of the Concerned PDP Stakeholders Forum, has declared unwavering loyalty to the party amidst speculations that Governor Peter Mbah may defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The stakeholders made their position known on Friday during a press briefing in Enugu, following a strategic meeting.

Led by Okey Ozoani, immediate past PDP Vice Chairman in the state, the group stressed that they are made up of founding members and grassroots leaders committed to keeping the PDP intact.

“We are deeply concerned about recent defections to other political parties, especially the ADC. Our mission is to rekindle faith in the PDP. Enugu has been a PDP state since 1998, and we won’t sit back and watch it be balkanized, Ozoani said.

He criticised recent defections, including that of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and accused some party leaders of engineering internal crises only to abandon ship.

“We remain firm. The PDP is intact and will win the coming elections. It’s difficult to convince Enugu people to support another party because PDP is in their DNA,” he said.

Ozoani also addressed the controversy over the party’s National Secretary position, defending Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s legitimacy. He blamed those now defecting for fueling the crisis and attempting to destabilize the party from within.

Reacting to threats by some Southeast PDP members to quit the party if SKE Ude-Okoye wasn’t appointed National Secretary, he said, “That stance is unjustifiable. The South-East already occupies significant national positions in the PDP. If Enugu also gets the National Secretary slot, what’s left for Imo?”

On the rumoured defection of Governor Mbah to the APC, he said, “It remains speculation. If it happens, many of us will remain in the PDP. Not everyone will follow him.”

Also speaking, Nicholas Ozonsi, former Udi LGA Chairman and one-time aide to ex-Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, said the governor had not made any official declaration.

“The governor has not publicly announced any intention to defect. Regardless, some of us are prepared to hold the fort. We will not allow the PDP to collapse,” he said.

He stressed that their loyalty to the party remains unshaken. “We support the governor as long as he stays in the PDP. But if things change, we will still stand firm for the PDP and remind the people what defectors once gained from this party.”

The post Enugu PDP stakeholders dismiss defection rumour, pledge loyalty to party appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.