Ebonyi Gov Was Our Member, Paid Dues To Us While Contesting Under APC – PDP Chieftain

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member in Ebonyi State, Silas Onu has on Friday claimed that Governor Francis Nwifuru while contesting under the All Progressives Congress (APC) was still paying his PDP membership dues up till March when the governorship election was held.

Onu stated this while sharing his thoughts on the tribunal ruling affirming Nwifuru’s victory in the March 18 poll.

Naija News recalls that the Ebonyi Governorship Election Petition Tribunal judgement had affirmed Nwifuru as Governor of the state and dismissed the Petition of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and its candidate, Prof Benard Odoh.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Onu insisted that the APC could not sponsor a member of PDP based on Section 177 of the constitution.

He argued that Nwifuru’s status as a PDP member is supported by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) membership registry.

The PDP chieftain stated that the registry “plainly” shows the candidate’s name under the PDP rather than the APC.

“What we are saying is that APC cannot sponsor a member of PDP as clearly provided under section 177(c),” he said.

Asked to comment on whether the tribunal cannot say, as it ruled, that the case borders on Nwifuru’s qualification, he asserted, “It is qualification.”

According to him, “as of March when the election took place, “this man [Nwifuru] we are talking about paid his membership dues in PDP. In the membership register of parties obtained from INEC, this name is not under the APC, his name is under PDP.”