PDP zones 2023 governorship ticket to Abia North, Central

[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]

Abia State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Saturday, adopted a novel zoning formula by zoning the party’s governorship ticket to two Senatorial districts; Abia North and Abia Central.

Abia PDP Publicity Secretary, Chief Fabian Nwankwo, announced the party’s decision to the two zones to newsmen at the state Secretariat of the party in Umuahia.

Nwankwo emphasized that after due consultations with elders and stakeholders of the party, including the recent touring of the 17 local government areaas, concluded  to zone their 2023 Abia Governorship position to Abia Central senatorial district and Abia North Senatorial district.

He said the decision was taken to douse tension, adding that the party observed that most Governorship aspirants were  coming from the two zones.

According to Nwankwo, all those from the above mentioned zones aspiring to the position of Abia State Governor, should liaise with the party for presentation to the state elders committee between Saturday 26th March, 2022 and latest, 30th March 2022.

The Abia PDP Publicity Secretary noted that the party was appreciative of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for the confidence he has shown in the party and urged him to continue to show exemplary leadership and to ensure that the PDP flag bearer for election 2023 emerges through a process guided by party decisions.

Which Senatorial zone of Abia State has remained controversial as Abia Central and Abia North have been laying claim to the 2023 governorship ticket based on the Abia Charter of Equity.

While Abia North maintains that the position has gone round the three Senatorial zones from 1999 to date, the governorship position should revert to Abia North.

But the Old Aba Division thinks differently. They contend that since 1999, the Old Bende Division, comprising Abia North Senatorial zone and some parts of Abia Central have governed the state for 18 years, leaving only seven years to Abia South, stressing that equity means that Old Aba Division comprising Abia South Senatorial zone and a section of Abia Central should be allowed to produce Ikpeazu’s successor in 2023.

Seven out of the 27 Traditional rulers from Ohuhu clan, on March 17, 2022, visited Governor Ikpeazu at Government House, Umuahia, and expressed their support for the Governorship position to remain in Ukwa/Ngwa political bloc for equity sake.

Leader of the delegation of the Ohuhu traditional rulers, Eze Nnamdi Ofoegbu was quoted as saying: “Ohuhu Traditional Rulers were of the opinion that since Old Bende Division has produced the Governor for 16 years, it was only natural that the Ukwa/Ngwa block (Old Aba Division) be allowed to produce the Governor in 2023 to ensure equity and balance in the State.”

The statement sparked spontaneous angry reaction and condemnations by Ohuhu people who said that as a clan, Ohuhu has not deliberated on the matter and has equally not taken any position on the potentially thorny divisive issue.

Last Friday, Stakeholders from Bende local government area also visited Governor Ikpeazu and urged him to indicate his political leaning in the succession to the Governor’s office in 2023, and the Governor assured that the zoning issue would be addressed in a matter of days.

“Bende people, you have asked me to light the torch. I have bought batteries, and I will deploy the torch in a matter of days,” Ikpeazu declared in response.

The Governor had recalled the past and assured them about the future.

“I have witnessed the two transitions in this State. I was here when Governor Orji Uzor Kalu managed his transition. He showed the way, and we all followed. My immediate predecessor also played his part during his time and showed the way, and we all followed. The lot is on me now, and I will live up to that obligation. I will show the way, and I know that we will follow,” he said.

The request and assurances are against the backdrop of intense lobbying, advocacy, and contention over the geo-political leaning of Abia State after Ikpeazu.

Abia State stakeholders are divided between those who insist that the zonal rotation was complete with the end of Ikpeazu’s tenure and those who argue otherwise.

The rotation-is-complete proponents insist that Ikpeazu, from Abia South Senatorial Zone, has completed the triangle following Theodore Orji from Abia Central and Orji Uzor Kalu from Abia North.

They add that it should return to Abia North to start a fresh cycle.

The opponents cite the 1981 Abia Charter of Equity between the old Aba Division and Umuahia (Old Bende) Division that pre-dated the creation of the State.

They argue that Abia State politicians have not respected the Charter as those from Umuahia Division have held office for 18 years against the current seven years for Aba Division. They submit that power should remain in Aba Division through the Abia Central Senatorial Zone.

Ikpeazu told the PDP stakeholders that he would indicate a leaning soon but would abide by the party’s decision.

Meanwhile, Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has reassured that the contentious issue of which zone would produce his successor would be resolved in a matter of days.

Ikpeazu gave the assurance at Government House, Umuahia, Friday, March 25, when stakeholders  from Bende local government area who paid him a courtesy visit requested to know his political leaning in the succession to the Governor’s office in 2023.

“Bende people, you have asked me to light the torch. I have bought batteries, and I will deploy the torch in a matter of days,” Ikpeazu declared in response.

Ikpeazu recalled the past and assured them about the future.

“I have witnessed the two transitions in this State. I was here when Governor Orji Uzor Kalu managed his transition. He showed the way, and we all followed. My immediate predecessor also played his part during his time and showed the way, and we all followed. The lot is on me now, and I will live up to that obligation. I will show the way, and I know that we will follow,” he said.

The request and assurances are against the backdrop of intense lobbying, advocacy, and contention over the geo-political leaning of Abia State after Ikpeazu.

Abia State stakeholders are divided between those who insist that the zonal rotation was complete with the end of Ikpeazu’s tenure and those who argue otherwise.

The rotation-is-complete proponents insist that Ikpeazu from Abia South Senatorial Zone has completed the triangle following Theodore Orji from Abia Central and Orji Uzor Kalu from Abia North.

They add that it should return to Abia North to start a fresh cycle.

The opponents cite the 1981 Abia Charter of Equity between the old Aba Division and Umuahia (Old Bende) Division that pre-dated the creation of the State.

They argue that Abia State politicians have not respected the Charter as those from Umuahia Division have held office for 18 years against the current seven years for Aba Division. They submit that power should remain in Aba Division through the Abia Central Senatorial Zone.

Ikpeazu told the PDP stakeholders that he would indicate a leaning soon but would abide by the party’s decision.