THE Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday declared that he would remain in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite the party losing the presidential election and now minority in the National Assembly.

Ekweremadu, who made his position known while addressing stakeholders from his Enugu West senatorial district at his home in Enugu, stated that by the emerging scenario of PDP being turned to opposition party, it was only coming home to roost, as far as South East was concerned.

The Deputy Senate President, who was recently re-elected into the Senate for the fourth time, stated that South East remains the home of PDP as demonstrated during the election in which the party cleared majority of National Assembly positions in the zone.

“I have also heard a lot of permutations on the possible mass defection of Ndigbo to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the coming dispensation. While I will not hold brief for all the PDP stalwarts of South East origin, especially because our constitution provides for freedom of association, I can assure you that on PDP we stand.

“At least, count Senator Ike Ekweremadu out of any defection to the opposition. PDP leaders in the South East are committed to further repositioning and strengthening the party. We may not have the presidency, but we are strong in the states and remain the party to beat. On PDP we stand,” he maintained.

While congratulating President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat in a heroic manner and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari for his hard won victory, the Deputy Senate President expressed gratitude to the people of Enugu West, and South East in general for coming out enmass to vote for PDP in the presidential and National Assembly elections and urged them to repeat the feat on April 11, during the governorship and state assembly elections.

He stated that instead of regretting voting for President Jonathan, Ndigbo should be happy and regard the turn of events as a defining moment for them in history, adding that they took a principled position and that they should take full responsibility of the political choice.

“It needs to be reiterated, however, that the South East PDP and indeed Ndigbo have nothing against General Muhammadu Buhari as a person or against his incoming administration. We will work hand-in-hand with him in line with our regional agenda and overall development of Nigeria. We will give him all the support to succeed because he was elected as the President of Nigeria, not president of the APC or any section of the country in particular.”