Ebonyi State governor David Umahi yesterday said his rejection of Labour Party during a stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday was done in the spirit of sportsmanship.
Umahi said the decision was to emphasise his earlier resolve to support the eventual winner of the APC presidential election who later turned out to be Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
In a statement signed by the special assistant to the governor on media and publicity, Mr Francis Nweze and made available to LEADERSHIP, he stated that by all standards, Governor Umahi only underscored his determination to live up to his earlier comment of supporting the party’s standard bearer.
He said, “It is pertinent to observe that if anyone wants the support and vote of Ebonyians, let such person switch to the APC, as Ebonyi State under the leadership of Governor David Umahi, is an APC state and as such, don’t play double standard, knowing that it is difficult and near impossible to be kissing and vomiting at the same time.”
He however emphasized that the governor also understands that all citizens have freedom of choice of candidates.
“The general public is encouraged to see it from the lens of obedience to the supremacy of the political party.
“The insinuations in some quarters suggesting that the Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. David Umahi has specifically asked Ebonyi People not to vote for a particular candidate in the 2023 presidential election was not just twisted but was also misleading.
“However, you would recall that while making his speech during the just concluded presidential primary at the Eagle Square, Abuja, Governor Umahi did promise to abide by the outcome of the election by supporting whoever eventually becomes the standard bearer of the party.”
Nweze said the governor has not hidden his displeasure over the role of some political actors of the South East in scuttling the agitation for president from the zone.
“Governor Umahi underscored the fact that the stakeholders of the zone are not yet determined to take their destinies into their hands which is obviously visible in their character,” he said.
He urged members of the public to disregard the hypothesis which he said was only concocted for the self-aggrandizement of those spreading it.
The statement credited to Governor Umahi has since Monday generated mixed reactions amongst the youths and elites of the South East zone.
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