Defection of Former Ebonyi Speaker; 'Good Riddance To Bad Rubbish' - SDP Chairman

...Says Party unperturbed by defection

The Ebonyi State Chairman of Social Democratic Party, (SDP) , Chief Abraham Agu Okpani  during the weekend said the party would lose nothing over the defection of the Gubernatorial Candidate, Rt. Hon. Ikechukwu Nwankwo  to the All Progressive Congress (APC) .

Chief Okpani told newsmen in Abakaliki, while insisting that the party in the State would not be affected by the Guber's defection. 

Hon.Nwankwo served as Speaker, Ebonyi State House of Assembly for six months during the Chief Martins Elechi's led administration , during which he was impeached as a serving speaker.

In August this year, he became  the authentic flagbearer of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ebonyi State.

 Barely few months he clinched the ticket, he defected to the ruling party, declaring his support for the APC Presidential candidate, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as the gubernatorial candidate, Rt.Hon.Francis Nwifuru.

However, the SDP chairman described the ex-guber as an opportunist, who used the party to gain his way into the ruling party. 

He argued that defection are for those who are confused and do not know their stands in politics.

Chief Okpani urged members of the party not to be deterred by the recent development, while assuring members that the Party would not be distracted in ensuring SDP candidates emerge victorious in the 2023 general elections. 

He said: “I want to use this opportunity to clear some issues, that I know are bothering members of the party. I can say that the Guber who left us for APC is now in political poverty. He is not in hell, or in heaven,and he is just hanging in the balance.

"He has long lost his political relevance, he was imposed on us, as the party's guber and never got  involved in any of our party's activities. 

"He was never a member of Ebonyi SDP.

" it is quite unfortunate that he used this party to gain his way into the ruling party.  

"However, I want to assure party members not to be perturbed with the situation , as we are on top gear to ensure that all the political seats, ranging from house of assembly to  Presidential are occupied in the forthcoming general elections " he stated. 

Chief Okpani revealed that actions are on top gear to  investigate and sanction members who  are involved in anti-party activities. 

"Those who want to decamp, should decamp.  We are ready to take over, we are not disturbed by their actions," he stated.

The chairman,  however  appealed to party members and the electorates to make the right decision in the forthcoming general election by choosing  SDP candidates because of the abysmal failure of the APC-led government in almost all sectors of State.

Also speaking, the State Women Speaker, Youth Leader of the Party, Hon.Mrs. Chidinma Eze , Hon. Raymond Egwu respectively, urged the Party candidates and faithfuls not to be discouraged rather intensify their campaigns, as victory is assured.

Adding "inspite of the setbacks, we must forge ahead. There is no going back on this race to victory, which will end in praise.We  will claim all the seats from house of assembly to Presidential seats", they affirmed .