PDP Apologises To Elechi

The Peoples’ Democratic
Party (PDP) in Ebonyi  State has officially apologised to Governor  Martin Elechi over the crisis that trailed the party’s primaries.
The Acting Party Chairman, Chief Joseph Onwe, made the apology in Abakaliki during its State Executive Council (SEC) meeting convened by the governor.
Onwe appealed to the governor to forgive the party for all the wrong doings because as his children, the party still needed him to succeed in the elections.
“We still thank you for gathering us together after a long time because we need to be together to record resounding victory at the polls.
“We plead that you attend the official flag-off of our campaign on January 12, even if it is for five minutes as our leader in this state,’’ he said.
Responding, Elechi berated the party for not informing him of the proposed flag-off, noting that it proved that there was serious impunity going on in the party.
“You are talking about me attending the PDP rally beginning from Monday but what will have happened if I did not convene this meeting?.
“How could I have known that you are starting the campaign on Monday as I was not even informed of the flag-off even as the leader of the party in the state.
“This is an unimaginable destabilising act as whenever we blame others for our problems, we should examine our consciences to see if we are free,” Elechi said.
He noted that the main aim of the meeting was to inform the people of President Jonathan’s intending presidential visit on January 16.
“We are calling on our members to mobilise for the president, we should also co-opt politicians from other parties and those who do not belong to any party,” he said.
PDP members present at the meeting took turns to suggest ways of enthroning lasting peace in the party and work toward the success of the party in the forthcoming elections.
Our correspondent recalls that the party has been embroiled in crises since the Deputy Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, hijacked the party structure and schemed out the governor.
Umahi then emerged as the party’s gubernatorial candidate as against Elechi’s preferred candidate, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, the former minister of health.
The development forced Elechi’s supporters which include: commissioners, local government caretaker chairmen, development centre coordinators, among others, to defect to the Labour Party.