Ikonne: PDP awards guber slot to Isiala Ngwa North
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
In the build up to the Abia State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fresh governorship primary slated for February 4, 2023, the party has zoned its governorship slot to Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, the home Council of the party’s dead governorship candidate, late Professor Uche Ikonne.
Abia PDP Vice Chairman/Acting State Publicity Secretary, Hon. Elder Abraham Amah, who made this known in a statement on Sunday, January 29, 2023, said the decision was taken after a meeting of the party’s State Caucus and appealed to party faithful to support the decision and work towards a successful governorship primary election.
Amah said the meeting was attended by party heavy weights, including the leader of the party and State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, his predecessor, Senator T.A.Orji; Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Chinedum Orji, as well as the PDP senatorial candidates of Abia Central, Col Austin Akobundu, and his Abia North counterpart, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa.
The statement titled “Abia PDP Zones Vacant Guber Seat To Isiala Ngwa North LGA,” reads:
“Following the death of the Abia PDP gubernatorial candidate, Prof. Eleazar Uche Ikonne, on January 25, 2023, and the subsequent directive by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct a fresh primary within 14 days to replace him, members of the Abia PDP State Caucus met today (Sunday) and zoned the vacant guber seat to Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, the home LGA of the late Prof. Uche Ikonne.
“The decision was taken after a meeting of the Abia PDP State Caucus whose membership is drawn from across the State, including Abia North, Ikwuano/Umuahia, Ukwa East and Ukwa West Local Government areas.
“Among those present at the meeting were the State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, former governor of Abia State Senator Theodore A. Orji, the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Engr. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji and the other two senatorial candidates of the PDP, namely Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and Col. Austin Akobundu, respectively.
“Also present at the meeting were the statutory members of the Abia PDP State Caucus, except one who sent in an apology for his absence.
“The Party urges members to support the decision of the Party caucus and work towards a successful primary election coming up on February 4, 2023.
“The Party also calls on members to remain vigilant and expect more information and briefings from the Publicity Department of the Abia PDP in due course.”
Recall that the party had, last year, in the build up to its governorship primary, zoned the governorship ticket to the three local governments of isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South and Osisioma which make up the Umunneato political bloc of Ngwa extraction in Abia Central senatorial zone.
The decision split the party down the middle as many party faithful had argued that the position should revert to Abia North where the rotation of the governorship position started in 1999.
The party stuck to its gun and in the primary held in May 2022, late Prof Ikonne emerged as the preferred governorship candidate of the party.
