‘You’re desperate for relevance’ — PDP tackles Umahi over comment on zoning

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says Dave Umahi, governor of Ebonyi state, is an “attention seeker” who is nursing an “imaginary” presidential ambition.

Over the past few weeks, the debate on the zoning of the 2023 presidency by the two major political parties in the country has taken the centre stage.

The Southern Governors’ Forum had resolved that the 2023 presidency should be zoned to the southern part of the country.

Speaking on southern governors’ resolution, Umahi, who left the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2020, said some PDP governors in the forum are against zoning the presidency to the south.

Reacting to Umahi’s comment, the PDP said it will make a decision on zoning when the time is right.

Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP spokesperson, in a statement issued on Saturday, said Umahi is attacking PDP governors “to actualize his desperation for public relevance”.

“The PDP finds it very pathetic that, having mortgaged his conscience, over his self-confessed love for the oppressive administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Umahi is manifestly accommodating the daily incidences of killings, wanton destruction of property, kidnapping and other acts of terrorism going on in Ebonyi state and the nation at large under the APC,” the statement reads.

“The PDP charges Governor Umahi to show his claimed commitment to the South-east by jettisoning his personal ambition and summoning the courage to call out President Buhari for his divisiveness, injustice, incompetence, treasury looting and insecurity that have become the hallmark of his failed administration.

“On zoning, our party urges Governor Umahi to focus on his fizzling APC and leave the PDP alone. By now Governor Umahi ought to know that the PDP is a party of due process and inclusiveness and that all interests within our party will collectively and peacefully take decision on zoning when the time comes.”