The former Senator of Abia North and ex-Chairman of the People Democratic Party, Abia State Chapter, Emma Chidozie Nwaka has reacted to the gale of defection hitting the party since last week.
Speaking in an interview with IVNTV NEWS, Nwaka said he was not surprised at all with the turn of events in the once ruling party in Abia State.
Nwaka described what is happening to the party as a symptomatic of food-is-ready politicians.
He said, “Instead of rebuilding the party they destroyed, they have chosen to become mere tenants elsewhere.
“I am sure that you have heard that PDP, Abia State was comatose as at 2010 when I was head-hunted to come and rebuild it. Without thumping my chest, it is right to say that my team and I, did a good job of the assignment.
“My five years at the helm of the party in the State have been described as the golden era of the party. I returned the party to its winning ways.
“During my time, party affairs were conducted from the party secretariat and party members had a say. But the moment I turned my back, all that changed.
“Party officials, after my exit, lost control. They started taking instructions from a few government officials, who weaponized the party against perceived enemies within the party.
“They sat in Umuahia and decided who would be an officer of the party at the ward level. As if that was not enough, the three Senatorial Structure of the State became non-existent in their minds and ceased to be the basis for the allocation of offices.
“ Abia, for them, was made up of old-Bende and Aba Districts. In the process, Abia North Senatorial Zone, was alienated.
“All these and more laid the foundation for the death of the party. Instead of making efforts to rebuild, the food-is-ready politicians chose to abandon their sinking ship.
The former governorship aspirant under PDP regretted that the once vibrant party is now a ghost of itself.
“To remain there would be like having a one-man party. So, I have decided to join the Siddon Look Party (SLP). New members are welcome. We’ll soon build it into a formidable party: Better to build than to destroy- is our motto.
Recall that the Peoples Democratic Party ruled Abia State from 1999, when it won the governorship with Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu as Governor. The party ruled the State until Orji Uzor Kalu decamped to form the Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA in 2005.
The PPA entered the 2007 governorship election and won. That was even while the governorship candidate, Theodore Ahamefula Orji was in the Kirikiri prisons, Lagos.
In 2008, Governor Theodore Ahamefula Orji fell out with the PPA leadership and he decamped back to the PDP.
Therefore, except for the interlude of the PPA years, the PDP had ruled Abia State for 20 years. The party lost the 2023 governorship election to the Labour Party, LP, which Dr. Alex Otti won.
