2027: Ebonyi PDP governorship candidate's spokesman dismisses defection rumours

The spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Chief Emmanuel Igwe, has dismissed rumours that urged he was defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Igwe mentioned he would ordinarily not dignify such hypothesis with a response, however contemplating the deliberate try to connect political which means to a wholly odd encounter, he thought of it obligatory to place the information straight.

The PDP chieftain said that earlier as we speak, Sunday November 1, 2026, a message was circulated within the WhatsApp group of former members of the State Executive Council who served underneath the administration of former Governor David Umahi, inviting them to a city corridor assembly scheduled for 1 pm on the Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki.

He defined that he intentionally ignored the invitation due to the political interpretations it would connect to his presence at such a gathering, significantly at this delicate interval forward of the 2027 governorship election.

This was contained in an announcement he personally signed and made obtainable to newsmen in Abakaliki.

According to him, he had a private matter to debate with Rev. Father Abraham Nwali.

He mentioned: “When he informed me that he was at the Ecumenical Centre, I proceeded there to attend to the matter. Upon arrival, I had no reason to avoid exchanging pleasantries with friends, associates and respected personalities whom I encountered.

“Among these I exchanged pleasantries with have been the previous Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Professor Chigozie Ogbu; Senator Julius Ali Ucha; Hon. Innocent Ugo Chima; members of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, management in Ebonyi State; the management of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and TUC; conventional rulers and others.

“Interestingly, the Master of Ceremonies repeatedly announced my name, apparently drawing attention to my presence. I eventually made my way out of the hall before the commencement of the event.

“I’m happy with the passion displayed by many Ebonyians who have been comfortable to catch a glimpse of me after greater than three years. Their heat reception was encouraging, nevertheless it shouldn’t be misconstrued as a political declaration or a sign of any change in my political allegiance.

“Let me state categorically that I am not contemplating defecting to the All Progressives Congress, APC, not even in the nearest future.”

He famous that he stays firmly dedicated to the political aspiration of Dr Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, the governorship candidate of the PDP, and the imaginative and prescient of the motion he proudly represents.

“It is unfortunate that a simple act of exchanging pleasantries with political leaders and friends has become material for sensational headlines. Must political relationships in Ebonyi State be reduced to hostility, suspicion and unnecessary conspiracy theories?” he mentioned.

“To those manufacturing defection stories from ordinary social interactions, I advise that they concentrate on issues that genuinely matter to Ebonyians rather than reading political meanings into every handshake, greeting or chance encounter,” he mentioned.