There were indications yesterday that no fewer than four members of Ebonyi State Executive Council, SEC, had resigned their appointments to contest various positions in the 2015 general elections.
Vanguard learned that those reported to have resigned their appointments include: Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Hon. Chike Onwe; Commissioner for Commerce and Tourism, Chief Hyacinth Ikpor, Commissioner for Cement Production, Sunday Ugwuocha, and the Special Adviser to Governor Martin Elechi, on Petroleum Product, Pricing and Distribution, Chidi Ejem.
The governor’s aides were said to have submitted their resignation letters through the office of the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Chief Fidelis Mbam, because Governor Martin Elechi was out of the state.
Feelers from the state’s Government House revealed that there are others still holding their resignation letters awaiting the return of Governor Elechi, who was expected yesterday.
One person whose resignation took everybody by surprise, was Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Chief Ikpor, whose resignation came 24 hours to the flagging off of National Festival of Arts and Culture, NAFEST being hosted by the state.
He is the chairman of the local organising committee for the event in the state.
His resignation is also raising dust considering the fact that he is running for governorship, for which the PDP and other stakeholders in the state had already endorsed former Health Minister, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu.
The former Health Minister and Mr. Ikpor are from Afikpo North local government area in Ebonyi South senatorial district of the state.
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dr. Onwe, is said to be aspiring for the House of Representatives of Ezza South/Ikwo federal constituency, currently occupied by Mr. Tobias Okwuru.
At the last State Working Committee meeting of the PDP, Governor Elechi had announced that two senators would return and pleaded with the party to allow all legislators to also return.
Meanwhile, former deputy governor, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, has purchased nomination form to contest Ebonyi South senatorial district position, presently being occupied by Senator Sonni Ogbu-Oji, who is also warming up for re-election.
Sunday Ugwuocha and Chidi Ejem are said to be eying House of Assembly positions in Afikpo South local government area of the state. Vanguard
