The runner-up at the 2015 governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah, says he has finally dumped PDP for the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Ogah who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen at his Onuaku country home said he decided to quit PDP because “PDP is a failed party that operates like a cult that protects only the interest of its members”.
The oil magnate who challenged the mandate of Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu up to the Supreme Court in a most celebrated political legal battle expressed disappointed over the structure and running of PDP in Abia.
His words: “The way PDP is structured in Abia is like a cult. Cult is not for the masses. Cult protects the interest of its members alone and popularizes itself.
“In Abia state, people are sitting on the resources of the entire state, sharing public fund among themselves. I believe that anything that will not benefit or interest the masses, I get myself out of it. My belief is adding value to the lives of the people.”
Ogah said he would pursue his governorship ambition in APC come 2019, expressing hope that he would be favoured as the party’s candidate.
On his choice of APC as the political platform to further his ambition, Ogah said he believed in the philosophy of change as being propagated by the party. He also said that APC appeared more transparent than PDP, adding that most people in Abia APC are progressives.
The business guru further noted that after losing the governorship tussle to Ikpeazu at the apex court, a lot of political parties approached him to join them but he rather took his time to consult before finally settling for APC.
“My defection to APC is not a rumor, it is the truth. You know after the Supreme Court decision on the 2015 Abia governorship election, I took time to rest even though many political parties have approached me to join them but I remained calm.
“After careful consultations, I decided to finally join APC. The reason being that APC is a party at the centre and Abia as a state needs the party. Those in APC are all progressives and the party is well positioned.
“APC will choose among the best to be its flag bearer not just any person like the PDP does. I believe in change. As long as Abia State is concerned, the state needs a change for better governance and to achieve this, Abians voting for APC in 2019 is the answer.”
Ogah said APC would sweep PDP out of Abia Government House come 2019, maintaining that the party had betrayed the confidence of the masses.
He enjoined his supporters to queue behind him in his new political platform, promising that he will soon commence mass empowerment of people in Abia State.
“APC will rule Abia because it controls the central government and the state will benefit much not only in political appointments but in the provision of infrastructure. APC is structured and internal democracy is working too unlike PDP that is characterized by in- fighting and crisis upon crisis.”