From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The immediate past Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has described those who left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to other parties as political featherweights.
A former chieftain of the party in the state, Chief Charles Ogbonnaya had in a recent interview said going by the prominent members of the party that left for other parties in their droves, PDP was dead in Abia.
Ikpeazu, speaking against the backdrop of the numerous defections which hit the state chapter of the party in recent time, during a stakeholders meeting of the party at the party secretariat, Umuahia, added that PDP would overcome it’s present challenges.
“The party in the state would soon overcome its internal challenges and get stronger.”
He vowed that the era of imposition was over in PDP, adding that the party which he said is undergoing rebranding process, would now allow the members choose its leaders.
The former Abia governor assured the party faithful in the state of brighter days ahead.
The leader of the party in the state and senator representing Abia central senatorial district, Chief Austin Akobundu, described the party’s oncoming rebranding process as a move that will put the party in proper form and shape.
Akobundu who pointed out that plans were on to reorganize and reposition the Abia PDP for effective and efficient leadership of the state, posited that in the new PDP that is being envisaged, power would be handed over to the youth.
He assured there will be a generational change where young people would be given the mantle of leadership because the future belongs to them.
“My assurance is that we’ll not leave you desolate, we’ll always be with you as long as you’re faithful. Be hopeful and work hard because PDP despite the challenges of losing the 2023 governorship election will soon bounce back to reckoning.”
The state chairman of the PDP, Rt. Hon. Asiforo Okere told members of the party to remain resolute and continue with their support for the party.
He expressed joy that despite the PDP not being in power in both the federal and Abia State governments, large number of people still believe and serve as its members.
Briefing newsmen at the party’s secretariat shortly after the PDP’s stakeholders meeting, the acting Publicity Secretary and Vice Chairman, Abia North, Elder Amah Abraham, explained that the party has realized that it made some mistakes during the period it was in power and has therefore set the process in motion to correct such mistakes.
Abraham who acknowledged the fact that the party did not engage wholly in the welfare of the people, observed that their opponents capitalized on this weakness to wrestle power from the PDP during the 2023 polls.
On those who left PDP for other parties, Abraham said, “It is customary for an Iroko to shed its leaves during the dry season. That doesn’t mean the end of the tree but to create an avenue for the tree to grow new leaves. In the past few months, our party has witnessed some shedding. It’s a necessary change which we are managing.”
He assured that the Abia PDP was intact and unshakable.