By Euclid Myke
The member representing the Isi-Uzo State constituency at the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Eze Gabriel Lebechi, Tuesday defected from his former party, the Labour Party (LP) into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is the ruling party in the state.
Disclosing reasons for his defection during plenary, Hon. Lebechi said that he moved to the ruling party as a result of internal wranglings and other leadership crisis within the LP.
He said that Gov. Peter Mbah of PDP is making giant strides Enugu State, adding that “he is working tirelessly to change Enugu to London.”
He said that because of the crisis, LP at the moment, “is almost dead,” hence his decision to switch camps.
Though he regretted ditching his former party, he said that he had no option than to move on to a better party with a better future and wished his supporters well for their support.
“I wish my well-wishers, my supporters and members of the party who supported me wholeheartedly to emerge as a member of the House of Assembly representing Isi-Uzo.
“As at yesterday and years back, Labour Party entered into a problem that they could not solve. As I am talking to you, Labour Party is a dead party almost. I made wider consultations. I switched into action by meeting my constituents, holding meetings, and calling some people who matter in the Labour Party on how to resolve this.
“After I found out that it is not something that could be resolved, I started asking them which way forward because I am here to represent them, to make laws and move motions and speak on their behalf as their mouthpiece and they advised that I move to a better place and that better place is joining PDP,” he said.
The lawmaker pointed out that another thing that spurred him into switching over to PDP was Gov. Peter Mba’s disposition to power, who he said has been performing very well in every ramification.
“Our governor made a statement some time ago that he came into power not for a government as usual but unusual. And he said that everybody should learn how to sacrifice and I personally, who is representing Isi-Uzo, seeing these two words of the governor in action, I then decided to support him.
“I read Computer Science and I know what AI can do and the governor moved into action: in the area of security he is there; in the area of Agriculture, he is there; in the area of hospital, he is there; road, he is there, every aspect that affects human beings, he is working tirelessly to change Enugu into London. I have no option than to join hands to support him.
“I am today defecting to PDP to support my colleagues and to support the government the government of Enugu State,” he said.
Recall that earlier in March, six LP members in the Enugu State House of Assembly officially defected to the PDP.
The defected lawmakers were Ejike Eze, (Igbo-Eze North 1); Johnson Ugwu (Enugu North) Princess Ugwu (Enugu South Rural) Pius Ezeugwu (Nsukka West) Amuka Williams (Igbo-Etiti East) Osita Eze (Oji River).
Also in December, four lawmakers in the House of Representatives also dumped the Labour party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmakers are: Hons. Chinedu Okere (Owerri Municipal, West and North), Mathew Donatus (Kaura), Akiba Bassey (Calabar Municipal/ Odukpani) Esosa Iyawe (Oredo) federal constituencies.
Also the 2023 governorship candidate of the party in Enugu State, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga also defected to the PDP.
