Defection: Dave Umahi hosts Orji Kalu to private dinner in Abuja

Defection: Dave Umahi hosts Orji Kalu to private dinner in Abuja

- Orji Kalu and the APC's new bride Dave Umahi held a private meeting on Sunday

- The private dinner meeting was hosted by the Ebonyi governor in his Abuja residence

- This ended wide-spread speculations that Umahi's defection may hinder Kalu's 2023 presidency bid

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Dave Umahi, governor of Ebonyi, has met one of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains in the person of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.

The meeting, which held on Sunday, November 22, at a private dinner in Abuja, was hosted by the governor days after officially announcing his defection to the ruling party.

Orji, a former governor of Abia state, is the Senate chief whip and the highest elected political office holder from the southeast where Umahi serves as the chairman of the region's governors' forum.

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Legit.ng gathers that Senator Kalu arrived Umahi's Abuja residence around 7pm and was given a warm reception by the governor.

Both men were visibly excited as they exchanged pleasantries and chatted in what probably ended the rumours that Umahi's APC defection may pose a challenge to the Kalu's 2023 presidency bid.

Breaking: Gov. Umahi meets Sen Orji Kalu; hosts him to dinner
Senator Orji Kalu and Dave Umahi hold a private meeting on Sunday. Photo credit: OUKtweets
Source: Twitter

The former Abia governor has been drafted into the consideration list of people who APC may pick to contest the 2023 presidency from the southeast.

Meanwhile, Umahi's defection has also been attributed to the 2023 southeast presidency project, with a number of the opposition men saying the governor is eyeing the country's top seat when the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari is over.

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In a related development, Umahi finally lifted the lids on why he defected from the PDP to the ruling APC.

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How Buhari made me dump PDP for APC - Governor Umahi breaks silence on defection (video)

Speaking while featuring on Arise TV on Thursday, November 19, from Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital, Engineer Umahi described as "absolute rubbish" the claim that "PDP made me what I am."

The governor, who has since become the darling bride of the APC household after his defection, stated that he was convinced to join the APC train due to the "father" in President Buhari.

He also rubbished the claim that the PDP made him what he is, saying he has contributed immensely to the opposition party including raising the idea of bringing Godwin Obaseki into the fold during his turbulent moments at APC.

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Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Rahaman Abiola avatar

Rahaman Abiola (Editor-in-Chief) Rahaman Abiola is an award-winning journalist and Editor-in-Chief with over 8-year experience. He holds a degree in English & Literature from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria (2015). He's a recipient of the Mile Media Award, Kwame Karikari Fellowship. His works have appeared in Punch, The Nation, Tribune, The Cable, Sahara Reporters and others. rahaman.abiola@corp.legit.ng