Abia 2023: Ibe, Ugochukwu fault PDP’s zoning formula

[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]

One of the governorship aspirants in Abia State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof. Greg Ibe, has come under intense pressure to dump the party and seek to actualize his ambition on another political platform over the zoning of the ticket ahead the 2023 election.

The pressure, The Oracle Today learnt, is as a result of the recent governorship zoning formula announced by the State Working Committee of Abia PDP.

This is also as a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, has advised the Chairman of the State chapter of the party, Dr. Alwell Asitoro Okere, to urgently call a meeting of stakeholders to ‘save the party from sliding into avoidable crisis’ over its recently-announced zoning of the governorship ticket.

It would be recalled that Dr. Okere, last Saturday, said that the party has decided to zone its governorship ticket to both Abia Central and Abia North Senatorial Districts.

“The Peoples Democratic Party, Abia State Chapter after wide consultations with Leaders and Stakeholders of our Party including the touring of the 17 Local Government Areas of the entire State and a subsequent meeting of the State Working Committee and the entire Executive Committee resolve as follows:

“That the Governorship position for 2023 Elections, be zoned to Abia Central Senatorial District and Abia North Senatorial District.

“That all those from the above mentioned zones who are aspiring for the position of Abia State Governor, should liaise with the Party for presentation to the State Elders Committee between today the 26th March, 2022 and latest 30th March,2022,” Okere had announced.

The zoning formula of the Abia SWC has generated critical reactions, as many party faithful have rejected the zoning.

Sequel, therefore, to the confusion trailing the recent multiple zoning of the governorship seat, many political observers within the South East region have called Prof Gregory Ibe to switch to another party in order to actualize his ambition.

Reacting to the recent novel zoning proposal a political analyst, Dr Ezechi Chukwu, described the formula as “a tempting invitation to anarchy capable of further polarizing the rank and file of Abia PDP.”

According to Dr Chukwu, Abia PDP’s multiple zoning formula is an unnecessary political experiment that unwittingly pitches the Abia North senatorial district, which, from all intents and purposes, is the right zone that should produce the next Governor, against their brothers from Abia central, thereby creating avoidable confusion”.

While condemning the strange and unpopular zoning policy, Dr Chukwu called on the PDP National Working Committee to intervene by prevailing on the leadership of Abia PDP to rethink the formula in order to save the party from the threat of imminent implosion and consequent disintegration

According to him, “With the recent biased stance of the Hon. Okere-led leadership in  the state, which runs contrary to the positions held by such party stalwarts as the former Governor and serving senator representing Abia Central District, Sen. Theodore Orji, the former Senate President, Sen.Adolph Wabara and former Secretary to Abia state government, Dr Eme Okoro, the stage is set for implosion within the party.”

He therefore advised all serious-minded governorship aspirants within the fold of PDP in Abia to consider the option of moving to other political parties unless the NWC intervenes.

He added:”From the ensuing political brouhaha within Abia PDP, which climaxed with the obnoxious zoning policy, it is obvious the leaders of the party have a secret agenda that borders on godfatherism and sectionalism. I therefore advise such serious-minded aspirants as Prof Ibe to consider the option of moving to other political parties that guarantee equity, fairness, justice and competitiveness in their leadership selection process.”

Also reacting, a former PDP aspirant in the last Anambra State governorship election, Dr Ifedi Okwenna, bemoaned the unfortunate political climate within Abia PDP, stressing that the present situation has the potential of delivering the state into the hands of opposing parties.

Okwenna therefore counseled the Abia SWC to abide by the recent directives given by both National Chairman of the party, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, and South East Zonal Chairman, Chief Ali Odefa, enjoining all organs of the party to adhere strictly to established zoning arrangements within their areas of jurisdiction.

When contacted, the Chairman of Abia Crusaders Foundation, Prof Ibe’s political Organisation, Prince Emeka Okafor, confirmed that “arising from the zoning uncertainties, there has been intensification of pressure on Prof Ibe to move to other parties but he has remained positive and resolute, believing and affirming that our leaders will do the right thing.”

Meanwhile, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, has advised the Chairman of Abia State chapter of the party, Dr. Alwell Asitoro Okere, to urgently call a meeting of stakeholders to save the party from sliding into avoidable crisis.

Ugochukwu who was the Abia PDP standard bearer in 2007, in a letter to Okere titled: “That Abia PDP May Survive,” took a brief review of recent happenings in the party and concluded that things were not being done democratically in the party, stressing that party was now embedded in confusion and headed for potential danger.

On the recent zoning of the party’s governorship ticket to the two senatorial districts of Abia Central and Abia North, the pioneer Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) described the action was strange and an imposition.

 He listed aberrations threatening the party to include the zoning decision taken without engagement of the statutory organs of the party, unilateral appointment of Chairman for the PDP State Elders’ Committee and the alleged anointing of a governorship candidate without consultations.

The elder statesman therefore called on the state party Chairman to call an urgent meeting of the State PDP Caucus to address the controversies rocking the party with a view to resolving them and having a united front.

The letter reads:  

“In the last few weeks, Abia State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been involved in numerous controversies, all of which are now threatening to throw the party into confusion, and potential disaster.

“We have had the controversy over the zoning of the governorship ticket of the Party, which has pitted Party members in inter-ethnic vituperations, and has severely polarised the Party, with members exchanging brick bats across the widening ethnical fault lines.

“Then the Party Executive has announced a Zoning formula, which frankly, seems strange in relation to the ordinary meaning of the word “zoning”. Worse still, this zoning decision was taken without engagement of the statutory organs of the Party, such as the State Caucus, making it for all intents and purposes, an imposition.

 “In the midst of all this, there are reports that a Chairman has been appointed for the PDP State Elders Committee, outside a meeting of that organ of the party, which amounts to a breach of Party Constitution. And then there are stories, so far unconfirmed, that a Governorship candidate has been anointed for the Party.

“From all these, it is clear that our party is heading towards an avoidable crisis. Thank God we are not there yet. But we need to take urgent action to return the Party to its normal Democratic ways.

 “I am therefore calling on the State Chairman, Rt. Hon Dr. Asiforo Okere to take urgent action to call the Party back from the brink, by summoning as soon as possible, a meeting of the Abia State PDP Caucus to discuss these aberrations.  

“In the meantime I urge our members to calm down and not exacerbate matters with inflammatory comments.

 “It is my belief that our party can always resolve its problems without imperiling our dear party. May God bless us all.”