Stakeholders of Abia North chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have cautioned Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to avoid any act capable of causing disharmony in the state, warning that his alleged plot to impose a governorship candidate from his Ukwa Ngwa zone in 2023 will be disastrous.

After their meeting yesterday in Umuahia, they reminded Ikpeazu that he became the state’s governor through the Abia Charter of Equity, which has the rotation of the governorship among the three senatorial zones of the state as its main thrust.

Their Spokesman, Elder Ogbonnaya Ukah, said that it would be unfortunate and great disservice to the foundation laid by our founding fathers, if Ikpeazu imposes his kinsman on the state as governor.”

“His anointed successor is from Isiala Ngwa North Council in Abia Central Senatorial District, which means that an Ngwa man will be handing over to an Ngwa man. During consultation with some stakeholders, the governor specifically excluded Abia North Senatorial Zone and Umuahia North Council as places that the governor will come from in 2023.

“The areas he reportedly said the governor will emerge from are Isiala Ngwa South, Isiala Ngwa North, Osisioma, Aba North, Aba South, Ugwunagbo, Ikwuano and Umuahia South councils,” he said.

Ukah, who said the leaders of thought in the state were appalled at the rumour linking Ikpeazu to the plot, which he described as a sacrilege, added: “Governor Ikpeazu’s body language seems to lend credence to the rumour, which is unfortunate.

“May we remind Ikpeazu that the agreement is that the governorship candidate should come from Abia North after his tenure. That was what the party elders agreed on, which is what made him (Ikpeazu) governor in 2015.”

He dismissed the statement credited to Ikpeazu that Abia North does not have a candidate with the resources to match All Progressives Congress (APC) at the polls and as such, it is preposterous to suggest that there are no men of substance in the Abia North zone.

“Who was Ikpeazu before he was chosen as governor. Who funded his campaign against Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)? He asked.

But reacting to the allegations, one of Ikpeazu’s aides, who pleaded anonymity, said the governor had been consulting with stakeholders to ensure that the right thing was done.

“In the first place, the decision on who becomes the candidate in any election is not made by an individual and I am sure all the issues will be sorted out in due course. There is no need for any controversy,” he added. (The Guardian)

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