Ekweremadu Vows to Remain in PDP

Deputy Senate President (DSP), Ike Ekweremadu

Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu 

The Deputy Senate President (DSP), Ike Ekweremadu, on Tuesday in Enugu denied speculations in some quarters that he was nursing the ambition to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that he would remain in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite the party having lost the March 28 presidential election and now a minority in the National Assembly.

Addressing stakeholders from his Enugu West senatorial district at his home in Enugu, Ekweremadu said by the emerging scenario of PDP being an opposition party, the party was only coming home to roost, as far as South-east was concerned.

The DSP who was re-elected into the senate for the fourth time recently, boasted that the South-east remains the home of PDP as was demonstrated during the election in which the party cleared majority of National Assembly positions in the zone.

“I have also heard a lot of permutations on the possible mass defection of Ndigbo to the APC in the coming dispensation. While I will not hold brief for all the PDP stalwarts of South-east origin, especially because our constitution provides for freedom of association, I can assure you that on PDP we stand.

“At least, count Senator Ike Ekweremadu out of any defection to the opposition. PDP leaders in the South-east are committed to further repositioning and strengthening of the party. We may not have the presidency, but we are strong in the states and remain the party to beat. On PDP we stand,” he maintained.

While congratulating President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat in a heroic manner and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari for his hard won victory, the Deputy Senate President expressed gratitude to the people of Enugu West, Enugu State and South- east in general for coming out enmass to vote for PDP in the presidential and National Assembly elections and urged them to repeat the feat on April 11, during the governorship and state assembly elections.

He stated that instead of regretting voting for President Jonathan, Ndigbo should be happy and regards the turn of events as a defining moment for them in history, adding that they took a principled position and that they should take full responsibility of the political choice.

Ekweremadu stated that the 1999 constitution makes it impossible for any state or group of states to suffer any discrimination in the allocation of resources and opportunities, even as he counseled the president-elect, Gen Buhari to carry everybody along in his new regime and not to discriminate against anybody on the basis of ethnicity, religion or political affiliation.

“It needs to be reiterated, however, that the South-east PDP and indeed Ndigbo have nothing against General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd) as a person or against his incoming administration. We will work hand-in-hand with him in line with our regional agenda and overall development of Nigeria. We will give him all the support to succeed because he was elected as the President of Nigeria, not president of the APC or any section of the country in particular.”

On the recent alleged threat by Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu against Ndigbo over their political choices and voting patterns, Ekweremadu, who expressed alarm over the threat, emphasised that Ndigbo will not be intimidated in any part of Nigeria, not the least Lagos, where he said Ndigbo contributed immensely in its development and economy.

“I call on Ndigbo in Lagos to demonstrate a strong objection to the hate comments and threats by voting en masse for the PDP, while the security agencies are called upon to ensure that Nigerians are not only protected but also feel safe in every part of Nigeria as they exercise their franchise in the April 11 elections,” he said.