The Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi, on Monday, claimed that the state will turn out votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general election.
Umahi spoke while swearing in five commissioners and two Special Assistants.
Also sworn in were six development centre coordinators.
The governor, elected on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform before he defected, believes the state will vote only for the APC.
He urged the people not to vote for the Labour Party.
“We will not vote for Labour Party, we will only vote for APC. Our vote is for APC and not for Labour Party. Our agenda is the Ebonyi agenda.
“We will vote for our presidential candidate in the person of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
“We must strive to liberate Ebonyi State and that is our agenda,” Umahi said.
Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State PDP, in their reaction, asked Tinubu and the APC not to be deceived by Governor Umahi’s assurance on getting bulk votes from Ebonyi in the 2023 general election.
In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary Chika Nwoba in Abakaliki, the PDP insisted that Ebonyi State remained a stronghold of the PDP in the country.
According to Nwoba: “The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ebonyi State has been drawn to a statement credited to the Governor, Engr David Umahi wherein he said that Ebonyi people wouldn’t vote for the PDP presidential candidate ahead of the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, but would vote for the APC’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“It should be known to the general public that David Umahi is not the spokesperson of the generality of the people of Ebonyi State and as such, doesn’t have the locus standi to say whom and whom not Ebonyi citizens are going to vote for.
“As a political party, we wish to charge Mr Umahi to put his house, APC, in Ebonyi State in order, so that the party can have a gubernatorial candidate ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“A man whose house is on fire doesn’t run after rodents. Ebonyi citizens of voting age are very wise and know where to lay their hands in the time of rain. Without mincing words, Ebonyi is a PDP State and this status will be upheld beyond 2023.”
