PDP Nat’l Secretariat affirms Igwe as Abia’s Deputy Governorship Candidate
…Says Jasper Uche’s name, submitted in error
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
The National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has come out to clarify that Hon. Barr. Philip Okey Igwe remains the party’s authentic Deputy Governorship Candidate in Abia State for 2023 general elections, explaining that the party submitted the name of Dr. Jasper Chidiebube Uche for the same position in error.
In a letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the party asked the electoral umpire to disregard the name of Dr Uche and act on the particulars of Igwe which the PDP had earlier submitted to the Commission in July last year.
The PDP letter to INEC, dated February 20, 2023 and jointly signed by its National Chairman, His Excellency, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, and National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, was necessitated by the current controversy over the move by Abia State leadership of PDP to substitute its subsisting Deputy Governorship Candidate, Hon. Barr. Philip Okey Igwe, with Dr. Jasper Uche.
Igwe, te lawmaker representing Umunneochi State Constituency, had in June last year, emerged the Deputy Governorship Candidate to Prof. Uche Ikonne, who suddenly passed away on January 25, 2023, a development that forced the Abia PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary that produced Chief Ambrose Okey Ahiwe.
While submitting Ahiwe’s name to INEC as a replacement for Ikonne, the Abia PDP leadership also substituted Igwe with Uche.
Vice Chairman, North, of Abia PDP, Elder Amah Abraham, who is also the chapter’s Acting Publicity Secretary, while giving reasons for Igwe’s substitution, explained that Igwe was running on a joint ticket with Prof. Ikonne, stressing that with the Ikonne’s demise, that ticket has died, among other reasons.
Igwe who had earlier warned that the move, which he contended was made without caution, may boomerang against the party, moved on to challenge his substitution at an Abuja Federal High Court, asking it to determine whether the Abia PDP could lawfully substitute him when he has not died, resigned or given any consent to the party to take such a course.
While that suit is pending, the National Secretariat of PDP, personified by the National Chairman and National Secretary has come out to affirm that Igwe remains the party’s substantive Deputy Governorship Candidate in Abia for the 2023 general elections.
The PDP National Leadership made its position known via the letter it fired to INEC to disregard the name of Uche, as Igwe’s candidacy still subsists.
The letter, titled: “Affirmation of Igwe Philip Okey as the Party’s Abia Stat Deputy Governorship Candidate for the 2023 General elections,” read in part:
“Recall that in July 2022, the Party forwarded the name of Igwe Philip Okey as its Abia State Deputy Governorship Candidate for the forthcoming general elections.
“Following the death of Prof. Uche Ikonne, the Party conducted a fresh primary election wherein Ahiwe Okechukwu Ambrose emerged the winner. However, in submitting the name of Ahiwe Okechukwu Ambrose to the Commission as its Abia State Governorship candidate, the Party mistakenly and inadvertently submitted the name of Uche Chidiebube Jasper as its Deputy Governorship Candidate.
“By this letter, the Party hereby affirms that Igwe Philip Okey remains the Party’s Deputy Governorship Candidate for Abia State in the forthcoming election. The name of Uche Chidiebube Jasper mistakenly forwarded to the Commission on the 10th of February, 2023, should be disregarded.
“Please note that the particulars of Igwe Philip Okey earlier submitted to the Commission remain valid and should be acted upon by the Commission.”
