Fmr Governor Ikpeazu’s Chief Press Secretary and Current Spokesman Barr Onyebuchi Ememanka Resigns from PDP
Onyebuchi Ememanka, former Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and most recently spokesman to the immediate past governor, has officially tendered his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Ememanka submitted his letter of withdrawal to Chief Chiemela Ufomba, Chairman of PDP Ward 3 in Amasato, Osisioma Ngwa LGA, marking the end of his affiliation with the party he served since 2019.
In a statement released to the press, Ememanka described his decision as “painful but inevitable,” arrived at after deep personal reflection and family consultation. He had hoped that, following the PDP’s defeat in the 2023 elections, the party would undertake a thorough review of its shortcomings and embark on a meaningful restructuring. Instead, he lamented, “What I saw was a deliberate and consistent exodus of key members into other parties,” with long-standing beneficiaries of the PDP platform among the first to depart.
Ememanka highlighted that despite his readiness to play the role of opposition—having transitioned from Chief Press Secretary to “Spokesman to the immediate Past Governor” on a pro bono basis—no revitalization occurred. “It’s been two years now and people are still leaving the party,” he said, expressing frustration that elected officeholders continued to defect, a trend he described as “beyond Abia State.” He quipped in his native OlokoroUmúahia dialect: “Odughu please!” (I am not Jesus Christ who bears the sins of the world).
Expressing gratitude to the PDP for the opportunities afforded him, Ememanka paid special tribute to Governor Ikpeazu, praising his leadership and the kindness shown to Ememanka’s family. He stated, “Dr. Ikpeazu gave the State his best under the prevailing circumstances and he left the state better than he met it. This move is not about him at all.”
Looking ahead, Ememanka acknowledged that he is still weighing his political future. “I haven’t decided where I’m going yet. I’m still consulting,” he revealed, but hinted at admiration for the political acumen of Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. “Fingers crossed!” he added, as he prepares for the next chapter in his public service career.
