Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has reacted to the defection of Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to Wike on Tuesday, Umahi’s desperation to become Nigeria’s next president come 2023 is the main reason he switched parties.

He also labelled the accusation injustice meted on the South-East by the PDP as mere blackmail, adding that his Ebonyi counterpart was being insincere.

Wike, however, urged Umahi to retract the allegation that PDP has not been fair to the South-East, arguing that the PDP, South East has produced Senate Presidents, National Vice Chairman of the PDP and Secretary to the Federal Government.

“My friend, Umahi wants to be president. No problem with that. You have a right to be president. Nobody can stop you. You are educated. You have been governor for two terms, so you are qualified to say I want to be president of Nigeria.

“But, that does not mean you have to blackmail your party, and tell lies to the people you are leaving the party because of the injustice meted against the South East, that is not correct.”

He stated, “In life, power is sweet, but conscience is important. It is most offensive and insulting for a man to lie against his party because of power.

“My reaction to Governor Umahi’s defection is not that he has no right to defect, but to say he is defecting because of injustice meted to the South East that is insulting to the PDP.”

Vanguard reports that Wike urged the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee of the PDP to take decisive steps to ensure that PDP does not die in Ebonyi State.