Izu Denies Defection Rumours, Says He Never Decamped To APC

The Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Delta State University Branch, Comr Monday Izu, has denied allegations of his defection from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he does not belong to any political party at the moment.

Izu in a statement on Friday made the clarification in Abraka.

Recall that viral videos and photographs of his alleged defection from the PDP to the APC before the Governorship and House of Assembly elections in Delta State were circulated online.

According to Izu, the clarification “is not to seek favour because PDP deservedly won the Delta State Governorship and Ethiope East Constituency’s House of Assembly elections,” adding that it became necessary “to keep the records straight for the sake of posterity.”

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“After all, APC also won at the Presidency and the Senate. I am not therefore seeking for identification with electoral victory,” he posited

Izu further denied being an official member of any political party.

In his words, “I have never been a member of any political party but a PDP apologist because so many of my brothers and sisters are card-carrying members of the party in active capacity.”

So in December 2022, according to Izu, he decided to be a member of the PDP and began consultation with senior members of the party in Abraka.

He stated that on Friday, February 3, 2023, he was directed to see the Acting Chairman of Ward 2, Hon Lawrence Ekakitie, aka Igbimi, at Erho-Abraka to officially present his intention of becoming a member of the PDP.

He continued: “Ekakitie happily welcomed me and promised to get back to me after reaching out to other leaders of the party.

“On the 21st of February, 2023, a PDP stalwart requested my assistance to mobilise Abraka electorates for a meeting in support of the PDP candidates. In conjunction with another comrade, I mobilised over 300 people for the meeting at Prof Frank Ukoli’s Senior Staff Club in Site 1, DELSU, Abraka on February 22, 2023. Eminent PDP leaders from Abraka and Agbon like the Ethiope East LGA PDP Chairman, Hon Felix Erhimedafe, and the Chairman of Ethiope East LGA Campaign Council of the PDP, Hon Sunny Akpodiogaga Emeyese were in attendance to address the audience.”

Based on the success of the meeting, Izu said: “The Ethiope East LGA PDP Chairman, Erhimedafe further mandated me to convene another meeting of Otorho-Abraka political players in my private compound. That meeting which held on the 23rd of February, 2023 had in attendance the Ethiope East LG Council Vice Chairman, Hon (Mrs) Pat Ejoh who effectively addressed the attendees in my compound.”

Continuing, Izu said: “On the 6th of March 2023, one of the PDP leaders who was guiding me to be admitted into the PDP, invited me to a political meeting at the residence of Hon Evance Ochuko Ivwurie. Luckily. I met many known PDP faithful and leaders and I felt at home. Before that moment, I never knew that Ivwurie had crossed from the PDP to the APC until the Chairman of Delta State APC, Elder Omeni Sobotie arrived at the meeting and the attendees were introduced as decampees from the PDP to the APC.

“I was still at a loss when I later saw videos and photographs flying on social media claiming that I was one of the decampees. Fortunately, I later discovered from the social media that all the other decampees formerly wrote letters to announce their official withdrawal from the PDP. But since I had no intention whatsoever to join the APC, I did not write any letter or attend any other APC gathering thereafter. I therefore challenge anyone with information to the contrary to publish same.

“Even though I have not been officially admitted into the PDP, evidence abound, I was already working for the progress of the party.

“In furtherance of this, I wish to note that my desire and application to fully join the membership of the PDP still subsists.”

Speaking further, he regretted any embarrassment the said video would have caused his mentors, well-wishers and, very importantly, the PDP he is desiring to join its membership.