Hon. Barr. Okey Igwe, addressing one of the meetings
Umunneochi YPP collapses into PDP, as Igwe assures pensioners, teachers of improved welfare, if Ikonne becomes governor
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
A political Tsunami which promises to consume the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Umunneochi local Government chapter of Abia State, is in the offing.
This is because the YPP hierarchy in Umunneochi which has already dumped party gave their firm promise to formally collapse the party into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and work with the ruling party in Abia to ensure victory for the PDP governorship candidate, Prof. Uche Ikonne, who has Hon. Barr. Okey Igwe, as his Running Mate.
They made the pledge when the YPP decampees met with the member representing Umuneochi State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Deputy Gubernatorial Candidate in the State, Hon. Okey Igwe, in his Isuochi country home, last Sunday, December 22, 2023. Hon. Igwe also met with other groups, including Ndi Ichie, Umunneochi, NULGE Umunneochi, Umunneochi Teachers Union and Ministers of God; as well as pensioners.
During the meeting with the Umunneochi YPP executives, they assured that they would “totally collapse all vestiges of YPP in Umuneochi” so that they could support the Ikonne/Igwe ticket, which has their brother, Hon. Okey Igwe, as Deputy Governorship candidate.
It was a swell of support for the PDP in Umunneochi during the meetings as the Ndi Ichie, NULGE, Teachers and Ministers of God in Umunneochi, all pledged to work for and support the Ikonne/Igwe ticket as a show of appreciation to PDP for nominating their son as Deputy Governorship Candidate.
Umunneochi NULGE, while pledging its support to the Ikonne/Igwe ticket, demanded that when it emerges, the Ikonne administration should lend full support to local government autonomy.
Similarly, Umunneochi Teachers Union demanded better and timely remuneration once the Ikonne administration comes on board; while the clergymen prayed for victory for the Ikonne/Igwe ticket and all PDP candidates in the forthcoming.
In the same vein, Hon. Barr. Okey Igwe, also met with over 500 pensioners of Umennechi extraction.
The Umunneochi pensioners, during the meeting held on Sunday, highlighted their plights to include non-payment of their gratuities and other retirement benefits. However, they assured Igwe of their unflinching support for the Ikonne/Igwe ticket.
Responding, Hon. Igwe thanked them and assured them that the Ikonne administration would prioritize their welfare, especially payment of their gratuities. According to him, it was a moral obligation which the Ikonne administration shall not shrink from.
At the meeting were the PDP candidates for Abia North Senatorial zone, Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa; Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, Barr. Loveth Ofoegbu; Umunneochi State Constituency Hon. Fabian Nwankwo, among other top stakeholders from Umunneochi.
