Abia State’s immediate past deputy governor, Ude Oko Chukwu, has joined the Labour Party (LP), less than one month after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
However, the PDP responded to the resignation by saying in a statement that it was not at a loss by his exit, describing it as a good riddance to bad rubbish.
At the event in his hometown, Nkporo, Ohafia local government, last weekend, he said he joined the LP because of Governor Alex Otti’s sincerity in governance.
He said he was handing over members of Abia Vision Rangers, his pro group, to the LP, because the “PDP has closed shop effective today.
”You have made an enormous difference. Continue doing your work. Some of us, who are politicians, will do the political work for you,” he added.
Receiving him, the governor assured Chukwu, who had served as speaker of the State House of Assembly, of equal rights in the ruling LP.
”This is a party that does not discriminate. There is no difference between those who are joining today and some of us who joined in 2022.”
”I’m glad that today he has given us a pass mark. He also came full chested, to join us, and I want to thank him,” Otti, who thanked the people for their support, noted.
Welcoming the former deputy governor, the state LP chairman Emmanuel Oti said there had been an influx of people into the party due to the governor’s positive impact.
The PDP State Working Committee statement noted: “Here was a man who, for 20 long years, occupied prime positions of power under the benevolence of the PDP.
He had “absolutely nothing” to show for his 12 years in the House, of which he served as speaker and eight as deputy governor, “totalling 20 uninterrupted years of privilege.”
”In Ohafia—his home area—his record is a barren land of wasted years. He delivered no water, no electricity, no meaningful empowerment, and no political legacy.
”His people remain in darkness, both literally and politically, while he basked in the comfort of Government House. What a shameful scorecard,” the statement further said.
