Abia 2023: ‘We will take decision on zoning soon’ – PDP
[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]
State Executive Committee of Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has appealed to governorship aspirants on its platform to remain calm and loyal to the party, assuring them the party would soon take “vital” decision on the issue of zoning of the party’s governorship seat.
The appeal is contained in a communiqué issued by the State Executive after its emergency meeting held at the state secretariat of the party in Umuahia, where the state party leadership vehemently denied the rumours flying about in the state that the party has zoned the 2023 governorship position to a particular senatorial district of the party.
The communiqué, jointly signed by the State Chairman, Dr. Alwell Asiforo Okere, and Secretary, Barr. David Iro, explained that the party hierarchy in the state was still consulting on the matter and frowned at the baseless rumours being peddled that the party has zoned the governorship seat to a particular zone of the state.
A statement endorsed by the State Publicity Secretary, Chief Fabian Nwankwo, disclosed that the State Executive called on the entire Abians, and the PDP family in particular, to disregard the unfounded rumours “because the state chapter of the party that is constitutionally saddled with such sole responsibility is still consulting the stakeholders of the party on the matter.”
“The Communiqué explained further that the ongoing sensitization cum familiarization tours of the 17 LGAs of the state by the PDP state Exco was part of its consultation with the PDP chieftains, stressing that as soon as the party concludes the consultation, it will take vital decisions for progress of the party,” Chief Nwankwo said.
Quoting the communiqué, the Abia PDP Publicity Scribe said “the State Executive maintained that it has implicit confidence in the maturity of the PDP stakeholders in handling political matters and urged them and potential Aspirants for the Governorship seat and other political elective offices to remain calm, loyal to the PDP and wait till the party takes its stand in line with its vision and mission to promote unity, peace, stability and progress of Abia PDP and the entire Abia State.”
The state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, had echoed similar sentiments last week when Prof. Greg Ibe, a frontline governorship aspirant visited him in his Umuobiakwa, Obingwa country home.
Ikpeazu told his guest that stakeholders of the Abia PDP were seriously holding consultations on the issue of sone the party’s governorship ticket in 2023.
Ikpeazu also called on the governorship aspirants to be courageous to accept any decision that would eventually be taken on the issue and support whoever may emerge the flag bearer of the party.
