Collapse APGA Into PDP, Says Ezeibe, PDP Chieftain

A Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain in Anambra State, Chief
Benedict Obiora Ezeibe has decried the conditional support which the
national leadership of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have
decided to give President Goodluck Jonathan's 2015 presidential
ambition.

Chief Ezeibe told reporters in Enugu, yesterday, that APGA should be
collapsed into the PDP rather than such proposal, coming from its
national leadership which he accused of hypocrisy.

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, his predecessor in
office, Mr. Peter Obi and National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh
had said that the conditions upon which their party would support
President Jonathan in 2015 presidential election is, among others,
giving their party members high profile Board appointments.

Chief Ezeibe, who was also Chairman of the PDP Finance Committee in
the state, described the demand as "mere blackmail and an
opportunistic outburst."

"For four years, you are telling us there is no APGApresidential
candidate; does that make it (APGA) a political party?" he asked,
adding: "What's the essence of having a party that will not present a
presidential candidate during elections?" He further re-stated: "We
should collapse APGA into PDP. What do APGA people have that will
deliver the president in 2015? We want them to have their own
presidential candidate as a political party." He added sarcastically:
"Is APGA a national party or Igbo party? Or is it an Igbo party for a
particular Local Government Area in Anambra State?"

According to him, PDP does not, in any way, need APGA todeliver
President Jonathan in next year's presidential poll. "It is important
to clear the air at this stage so that our brothers and sisters in
APGA are not deceived or cowed into isolated Local Government Party.
PDP has a good product and candidate and we do not need APGA to vote
him in. In 1999 and 2003 President Olusegun Obasanjo was voted in
without APGA, again in 2007, Musa Yar'Adua won without APGA support so
what are we talking about? APGA or no APGA, PDP will deliver its
candidate, Jonathan in 2015," he said.

In the opinion of Ezeibe, nobody should blame the APGA National
Assembly members for their recent defection to the PDP since they saw
clearly the handwriting on the wall. "Nigeria is an indivisible
country; if you cannot beat them, you join them. How do you blame Uche
Ekwunife and Chuma Nzeribe for dumping APGA back to PDP? It was PDP
that made her what she is today, including making her Chairman, House
Committee on Environment," according to Ezeibe.

Ezeibe advised the leadership of APGA to tow the path of best
democratic practices by engaging in dialogue with PDP, "the party
that produced President Jonathan," because "if you like the product
of the party, you must also accept the party; your support for
Jonathan will be more meaningful if you join the party, PDP."