As the Ebonyi State Governorship campaign heats up, Governor David Umahi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has donated N5 million to his main rival – the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Sonni Ogbuoji – for the printing of his posters and billboards ahead of the forthcoming election.

Governor Umahi made the donation known in Ishielu Local Government Area while addressing a crowd of his supporters during a campaign rally on Thursday to canvass for votes in the area.

He said he was constrained to make the donation because the posters of the APC gubernatorial candidate and his running mate, Justin Ogodo, were not good for the image of the state.

The Governor, therefore, directed his Chief of Staff, Dr. Offor Okorie, to release the money immediately to Ogbuoji and his running mate.

The gesture was, however, opposed by PDP supporters in the rally who immediately chanted “No! No! No! No!” to express their disagreement with the Governor.

“Tell my brother, the one who said he is contesting governor with the so-called deputy to change their pictures (referring to their posters). People will think that is how Ebonyi people look like.

“I want to donate N5m to assist them change their pictures. For the sake of the image of Ebonyi state, let them change those posters and billboards. I want the Chief of Staff to release the money immediately to them,” Umahi had said, though with a tinge of sarcasm.

He also warned PDP supporters against attacking members of the opposition or tearing their posters or billboards, saying, they are so insignificant and should not be given unnecessary attention.

Umahi also said he was impressed by the massive turnout of people in the rally and commended the stakeholders of the area for the feat.

He recalled that in 2015 when he came to Ishielu to seek for their votes, “there was a lot of blood-letting caused by the Ezillo and Ezza Ezillo communal war but today, it has become history as absolute peace has returned to the area.”

He said the peace was made possible through prayers from clerics.

The Governor said there was no alternative to peace because, without the return of peace in Ishielu LGA, his administration would not have achieved what it has achieved in the area.

He told the cheering crowd to vote for all PDP candidates including the party’s presidential candidate and his running mate.

“Ebonyi State is PDP. Vote for our Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar; vote for Peter Obi (Okwute Ndi Igbo), our Vice Presidential Candidate; vote all the PDP candidates. There is no division in PDP South East. South East is totally PDP,” Umahi urged the crowd.

He said he was confident that Ishielu people would deliver all PDP candidates in the forthcoming general elections.

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