…APGA set to feast on implosion
Political leaders in Ebonyi State chapter of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are at daggers drawn over the alleged endorsement of Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu as the party's candidate in the 2015 governorship election.
The state Governor Chief Martin Elechi had at a stake holders' meeting Monday night in Abakaliki, the capital city, reportedly announced the zoning of the governorship seat to Ebonyi South senatorial zone. He also reportedly announced Chukwu as the consensus candidate.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that Chukwu's endorsement had upset several political leaders from the Abakaliki zone. They accused Governor Elechi of imposing Chukwu for selfish reasons.
Ironically, the protests appear to be loudest from the Abakaliki zone, an area that boasts of eight Local Government Areas against the minister's zone that has five.
Fumed one politician, “I am a prominent political leader from the Abakaliki zone, comprising the north and central senatorial zones. Desirable as the power shift to the south may be, at no time did we meet to decide on a particular candidate.”
The politician described Chukwu's consensus candidacy as a huge threat to the unity and stability of Ebonyi PDP. He warned on the dangers of taking rival All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), stressing, “with this annoying consensus, APGA is one party waiting in the wings to shock us.”
Another political leader from the Abakaliki zone, who didn't want his name mentioned, said the stake holders' meeting was designed to frustrate the governorship ambition of Deputy Governor Dave Umahi.
“We heard from the grapevine that Dave Umahi is contesting for governorship. What the governor has done apparently is to play God and politically frustrate the young man,” he submitted, stressing, “this is most unfair.”
Pointblanknews.com gathered that Chukwu's “hasty” endorsement may not be unconnected with the cold war brewing between Governor Elechi and Umahi, his deputy.
An engineer, Umahi had a very successful tenure as state PDP chairman. Elechi had in 2011 reportedly convinced Umahi to quit as chairman and run as deputy governor with a promise to support him become governor in 2015.
Political leaders in Ebonyi State chapter of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are at daggers drawn over the alleged endorsement of Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu as the party's candidate in the 2015 governorship election.
The state Governor Chief Martin Elechi had at a stake holders' meeting Monday night in Abakaliki, the capital city, reportedly announced the zoning of the governorship seat to Ebonyi South senatorial zone. He also reportedly announced Chukwu as the consensus candidate.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that Chukwu's endorsement had upset several political leaders from the Abakaliki zone. They accused Governor Elechi of imposing Chukwu for selfish reasons.
Ironically, the protests appear to be loudest from the Abakaliki zone, an area that boasts of eight Local Government Areas against the minister's zone that has five.
Fumed one politician, “I am a prominent political leader from the Abakaliki zone, comprising the north and central senatorial zones. Desirable as the power shift to the south may be, at no time did we meet to decide on a particular candidate.”
The politician described Chukwu's consensus candidacy as a huge threat to the unity and stability of Ebonyi PDP. He warned on the dangers of taking rival All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), stressing, “with this annoying consensus, APGA is one party waiting in the wings to shock us.”
Another political leader from the Abakaliki zone, who didn't want his name mentioned, said the stake holders' meeting was designed to frustrate the governorship ambition of Deputy Governor Dave Umahi.
“We heard from the grapevine that Dave Umahi is contesting for governorship. What the governor has done apparently is to play God and politically frustrate the young man,” he submitted, stressing, “this is most unfair.”
Pointblanknews.com gathered that Chukwu's “hasty” endorsement may not be unconnected with the cold war brewing between Governor Elechi and Umahi, his deputy.
An engineer, Umahi had a very successful tenure as state PDP chairman. Elechi had in 2011 reportedly convinced Umahi to quit as chairman and run as deputy governor with a promise to support him become governor in 2015.
