Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said that it would be futile to engage in a dialogue with Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi over a return to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Wike noted that Umahi decided on his defection to the All Progressive Congress (APC), as such, dialogue would amount to a waste of time.
Umahi’s defection to the APC has continued to generate controversy as stakeholders from both divides react to the defection of the Ebonyi State governor.
Umahi had during his state broadcast to announce his defection alleged that his decision to leave the PDP was because of the injustice the party has been shown to the South-East region. He noted that the APC would better serve the interest of the region in the 2023 presidential election.
Reacting to the defection, Wike on Wednesday said Umahi defected to seek Presidential ticket rather than because of marginalisation of the South-East by the PDP.
He said, “As far as PDP is concerned, Umahi has left the party. Yes, we know. But the party has been saying, let’s talk to him.
“At a point, I told the Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Hon Aminu Tambuwal. I said I will not be a party to go and talk to Umahi because I do know that what we are going to do will not achieve any results. So, he has left.”
The Rivers State governor added, “All of us are aware that Governor Umahi has been romancing with APC for long. We had a virtual meeting of PDP governors. I have never seen that in my life. Governor Umahi in that meeting, to the surprise of many governors, said ‘there is nothing anybody can do to stop me’. I promised President Buhari I would give him 35 per cent votes’.
“I never knew that people never voted in Ebonyi. That votes were allocated and Governor Umahi determined who gets what percentage.”