The immediate past governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, has declared that he has no plan to leave the Peoples Democratic Party, even though some of his former aides have left the opposition party for reasons best known to them.
Ikpeazu, who stated this on Thursday during the caucus meeting of the party held at the new party secretariat in Umuahia, the state capital, vowed to rebuild the party, calling for unity of purpose among the PDP members in a bid to quickly return the party to winning ways in the state.
He said, “We must all take individual responsibility for our performance in the 2023 elections even as our party is going through self-cleansing. I will remain in PDP and never be found wanting in my duties to our party and its rebuilding process.
“Those who want to leave will leave, no matter what you do. Loyalty is also about the realisation that at some point in time, this party has been good to you. It is now time for sacrifice, especially from those who previously benefitted from our party in one way or another as we must all join hands to reposition it.”
Earlier in his address, the state PDP Chairman, Asiforo Okere, thanked members who had remained steadfast in supporting the party, especially after the 2023 elections.
Okere further announced that the National Working Committee of the party had extended the tenures of elected ward executives by three months in an acting capacity.
Also speaking, the lawmaker representing Abia Central, Senator Austin Akobundu, said, “The PDP in Abia State is a movement that nobody can kill,” while an elder statesman in the state and member of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, sued for unity, saying no faction exists in the party.
“It is now time to reposition the party and ensure that young members find comfort and space to contribute to the party and leadership in the state,” he advised.
Speaking afterwards with Saturday Punch, the state PDP Vice Chairman/acting State Publicity Secretary, Abraham Amah, said, “Abia PDP is still strong, vibrant, and more united.”
Recall that last week, six PDP faithful and former aides to Okezie Ikpeazu, along with their followers had defected to the All Progress Congress during the ruling party’s stakeholders’ meeting in Umunneochi, ahead of its zonal caucus meeting convened by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, at her Umunneochi country home.
