By TINA TIMOTHY

A member of Abia State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, has told speculators that Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu will neither support the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) nor vote for its Presidential flagbearer in the forthcoming 2023 elections, stressing that Ikpeazu is in the PDP for the long haul.

“Stop wasting your time speculating on his position vis-à-vis 2023 Presidential Election and whether he could support Tinubu of APC. If you know Governor Ikpeazu you won’t mention his name in same sentence with voting for Tinubu of APC or working for his victory. That won’t ever happen.

“The speculation that Governor Ikpeazu is among 4 Governors that will support Tinubu only exists in the imagination of the writer. He has made his position known in public and private engagements with party leaders at state and federal levels that he is in the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) for the long haul,” Kalu said Sunday in a statement.

The PDP Chieftain reiterated that Ikpeazu has no intention to leave the PDP or back the APC but desires that the anomalies in the PDP be rectified to accommodate all zones in the country which includes the South East or else, it may be difficult for the party to win.

Continuing, he said: “That HE Okezie Ikpeazu, PhD, wants his party leardership to dredge up courage to accommodate all zones of our country pre and post election periods does not in anyway suggest intention to leave PDP or back Tinubu in any form or manner. He used the analogy of raising alarm about the need to fix the faults in the vehicle, PDP, that is expected to convey us to political Canaan Land. However, he also stated that if his advice is ignored that he will board the faulty vehicle with the burden off his shoulder in case the inevitable happens.

“Governor Ikpeazu believes that rectifying the anomalies will give those of us from the South East a foothold to level with our people on what is in it for them in a potential PDP federal government, otherwise it will become difficult though not impossible to win.”

Kanu further urged speculators to leave the Abia Governor alone and vote for PDP, adding that even if he is unhappy with his party, “Tinubu and APC will not even be second or third choice for him,”

“As someone who has worked closely with Governor Ikpeazu, I can easily say that Tinubu and APC will not even be second or third choice for him if he actually feels greatly discontented with his party, the PDP.

“Leave Governor Ikpeazu out of your speculations and continue to vote for PDP,” he added.

Update news