Ex Gov Martin Elechi Declared “A Nonentity” In Ebonyi State

Barely 24 hours after Ebonyi State former Governor Martin Elechi defected to the All Progressive Congress, members of the 18-member Ebonyi Elders Council comprising founding fathers of the state, academia, royal fathers, ambassadors and political office-holders have described the defection as a non-issue.

According to them, Elechi’s defection to the APC won’t stop Governor David Umahi’s re-election bid.

Addressing a press conference in Abakaliki the state capital on Monday, the Chairman of the council, Ambassador Franklin Ogbuewu, said the defection of Elechi was baseless.

He said, “ If ex-governor Elechi did not stop Umahi in 2015 when he was seeking to become the governor, is it now that Umahi is the incumbent chief executive that he would stop him?

“Elechi’s defection will not stop Umahi’s re-election in 2019, he is now an ordinary citizen, and Umahi is a substantive chief executive.”

The elders urged Umahi to publish the financial records of the state for the eight years Elechi ruled the state.

“If Umahi fails to publish his predecessor’s financial records, we the elders will now take it on him that he is holding us back,” Ogbuewu said.

Speaking against the backdrop of other top politicians who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC – Senator Soni Ogbuoji who represents Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone in the Senate, and Chief Onwe Solomon Onwe – Ogbuewu said Umahi’s following in the state was overwhelming, stressing that the defectors would make no impact in Umahi’s re-election bid.

“The issue is that when the chips are down, we would know who is in the majority, and who has the backing of the people,” he said.

Also addressing the media, a former member of the House of Representative representing Ezza South/Ikwo federal Constituency, Chief Ugo Chima, debunked Elechi’s statement that he (Elechi) was the founding father of Ebonyi State.

Among notable members of the council present at the briefing are former Ebonyi State Deputy Governor, Prof Chigozie Ogbu, Fidelis Nwankwo, Chief Okeagu Ogada and Chief Odukor.

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