PDP Should Be Deregistered – Former Enugu State Governor, Chime Decamps From PDP

PDP Should Be Deregistered – Former Enugu State Governor, Chime Decamps From PDP

A former Governor of Enugu State, Mr Sullivan Chime, has confirmed that he has left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Chime made the confirmation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, on Friday, stating that he left the PDP because the party was already dead.

He debunked speculations that he was jumping ship in a desperate attempt to evade corruption charges against him by the EFCC, while also quashing rumours that he was headed for the ruling All progressives Congress, APC.

“The PDP, we used to be members of is dead. The party I joined in 1999 and had the opportunity of leading in the state for eight years is no longer in existence,” he said.

“We have two groups claiming to be in charge of the party as chairman. These two, none of them can actually lay claim to the chairmanship of the party.

“There is no provision in PDP’s Constitution for interim caretaker committee led by Sen. Ahmed Maikarfi.

“The PDP convention has no power to set up a caretaker committee and did not seek to amend the party’s constitution.”

He went further to express surprise that INEC had not yet deregistered the PDP, saying no “serious-minded politician should want to be associated with the party.

“It is surprising or maybe INEC has not deregistered the PDP because the organisation is no longer working in tandem with the constitution that created it.

“The PDP as originally formed has been cremated and no serious-minded politician will remain in it.

“If those still remaining feel strongly about coming together they can come back, secure de-registration of the party and then form another party,” he added.

Chime’s decision comes at a time of mass defections in the PDP, including founding father and veteran Enugu politician, Jim Nwobodo.

The state however remains a major stronghold of the PDP, and it remains to be seen where Chime, who hails from the same Senatorial district as Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, goes from here.