Ikonne: Atiku’s camp, Ikpeazu in fresh battle over Abia PDP guber ticket

Intrigues between Dr Okezie Ikpeazu , Governor Abia State faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and supporters of the Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar in the state indicates a fresh fight over who replaces the late governorship candidate of the party, Prof. Uche E. Okonne.
Oracle News Today learned that both sides are said to be doing everything within their power to ensure that the party’s governorship candidate emerges from their factions

Atiku’s supporters, according to the Nation , are determined to prevent the governor, who is a member of the G-5, from having his way on the governorship candidate this time around.

Soon after the death of Ikonne last week, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) directed the PDP in Abia State to conduct a fresh primary election within 14 days to replace the deceased.

The party subsequently fixed February 4, 2023 for the governorship primary election.
In a statement on Friday, the party said the primary would come up at the Umuahia Township Stadium.

It urged interested aspirants to collect Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms from the PDP Headquarters at Wadata Plaza, Wuse Abuja.

“The sale of both forms begins today Friday, January 27 and ends on Wednesday, February 1, 2023.

“The screening of aspirants will hold at the PDP National Headquarters, Wadata Plaza Abuja, on Thursday, February 2, 2023, at 11:00 am prompt,” the statement said.

Observers said the death of the PDP candidate is a setback for Ikpeazu who, as a member of the G-5 PDP governors, is at loggerheads with both Atiku and the National Chairman of the party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.

The Nation gathered that the governor is pushing for the nomination of one of his youthful allies, who contested the last primary election with the late candidate, as Ikonne’s replacement; a move being resisted by Atiku’s loyalists.

A source said: “It is not correct to say it is a move against Ikpeazu. It is a move to ensure that we nominate a committed PDP member as our next gubernatorial candidate.

“What we want now is someone who will not do anti-party. We want the next gubernatorial candidate to join us in campaigning for all our candidates and not join some people to oppose the presidential candidate of our party.

“Now that we have a very rare opportunity to reposition the PDP in Abia State, we will not miss the opportunity.

“We are not against the governor. We are only urging him to join other leaders of the party to deliver Abia to PDP in all the elections.

“The death of our dear brother, Ikonne, should teach all of us a lesson about the greatness of God.”

According to reliable sources, former Senate President and Acting Chairman of PDP Board of Trustee, Senator Adolphus Wabara and the immediate past governor and Senator representing Abia Central, Senator Theodore Orji, who doubles as the South East Coordinator for Atiku/Okowa PCC, are leading the move against the governor.

Other key party bigwigs named as part of the move to snatch the governorship ticket of the PDP away from the governor’s camp are the incumbent deputy governor, Ude Oko Chukwu, who is the Chairman of Atiku’s PCC in the state, and his deputy, Hon. Nkem Abonta.

Former Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Chairman and BoT member of PDP, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu; former Secretary to State Government, Dr. Eme Okoro; presidential aspirant and former Speaker, Chikwendu Kanu; PDP Chairman, Asiforo Okere; former Chairman of the party, Senator Emma Nwaka, are also said to be involved.

The PDP chieftains are displeased with the governor’s disposition to the presidential campaign of the PDP in the state.

Last November, Ikpeazu and the four other G5 PDP governors, led by the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, decided not to campaign for the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar, as they flagged off the 2023 elections campaign in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

Speaking during the campaign, Wike insisted that the group, now known as ‘Integrity Group’, would not support Atiku’s presidential ambition as it continues to fight for equity, fairness and justice for the benefit of the poor masses.

He urged Abia residents to follow Governor Ikpeazu and ensure that all the PDP candidates for the 2023 general election were elected.

He said: “The G5 governors will continue to support all the candidates of the PDP in Abia State. There’s nothing like going back.

“Do whatever Ikpeazu tells you to do. He is a man of integrity, and honesty and he is dependable, unlike some people who we supported with money and yet they left the party.”

Other governors in attendance, including Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, each canvassed support for the PDP candidates in the state.

A few weeks ago, Ikpeazu and the late Ikonne were conspicuously absent at the inauguration of the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Council at the Michael Okpara Auditorium Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

“Several party leaders had expressed concern over the decision of the governorship candidate to shun the presidential campaigns of the party.

“With his death, Atiku’s camp in the state is set to ensure the emergence of one of them as the governorship candidate of the party.

“The Atiku camp has zeroed in on the deputy governor and Senator Nwaka as possible replacement for Ikonne. The two are eminently qualified and they are unrepentant supporters of our presidential candidate.

“Good enough, they both participated in the last primary election of the PDP,” a party source told The Nation yesterday.

Our correspondent however gathered that Deputy Governor, Ude Oko Chukwu, is the choice of the majority of PDP leaders in Atiku’s camp. “Many people see him as the most viable replacement. The goal is to win the governorship on March 11,” our source added.