Ekweremadu Reacts To Rumoured Defection To APC

Following the loss suffered by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded presidential election, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has this to say about defecting to another party now.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu

Nigerian Pilot reports that the deputy senate President on Tuesday revealed that he will not defect to any other party to retain his seat in the National Assembly.

Speaking in Enugu, while reacting to speculation of his plan to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), during an address to his constituents, Ekweremadu said the South East Zone leaders of the PDP were committed to repositioning and strengthening the party.

“We may not have the presidency but we are strong in the states and remain the party to beat,” he said.

According to him, PDP members in the National Assembly and members of the party in South East would work with the incoming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari for the overall development of the country.

“The South East PDP and Igbos have nothing against Buhari as a person or his administration. We will work hand in hand with him and give him the support to succeed. I have heard permutations on the possible mass defection of Ndigbo to the APC in the coming dispensation. While I will not stand brief for all the PDP stalwarts of the South East because our constitution provides for freedom of association, I can assure you that on PDP we stand. Count Sen. Ike Ekweremadu out of any defection to the opposition,” he said.

Ekweremadu, who commended his constituents for re-electing him and making the PDP proud in the state, also thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat without rancor.

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He said President Jonathan’s decision was a great and defining moment for the country’s democracy, and used the medium to appeal to the people of the state to vote for the PDP Governorship Candidate for better delivery of the dividends of democracy.

Meanwhile, political leaders of Nigeria’s South East geo-political zone seem to have shut themselves from the country’s emerging power equation beginning May 29, as the zone did not produce any federal lawmaker on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Saturday’s National Assembly elections.