By JOHN NWOKOCHA, Abuja

The crisis rocking the Abia chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a turn for the worse with barely ten days to the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections. The worsening crisis follows the resignation of the State vice chairman, Honourable David Chigbu.

The former Commissioner for Sports in the state, and former LG chairman, in his letter of resignation which was sighted by News Express, stated that he was dissociating himself from the activities of the PDP.

Although the two-paragraph letter dated February 13 did not state any reasons for leaving the party in which he had functioned at top positions since 1999, he however told News Express in a telephone conversation Wednesday night that injustice, unsolved internal wrangling, backlog of unpaid remuneration and allowances of secretariat workers among others are reasons for his resignation.

He accused the state Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and the State PDP chairman, Hon. Allwell Asiforo, of masterminding the injustice in the party. He also alleged that the process through which the deputy governorship candidate of the party for the March 11 gubernatorial election was undemocratic.

But PDP in a swift reaction insisted that Chigbu was directed to resign by the party. It also claimed that it did not owe him any salary or allowances. The party accused Chigbu of anti-party activities. It also said he was of no political value, claiming that Chigbu’s resignation will have no consequences on the chances of the party to victory in the elections.

News Express reports that before the demise of Prof Uche Ikonne – governorship candidate of the party – PDP had settled for a deputy governorship candidate with whom to run the ticket. Both names it was learnt, were recognised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The party however changed the ticket and announced a different candidate only last week. A situation according to our findings has created much rancour in the PDP.

The aggrieved party stalwart therefore vowed that he and his supporters would ensure that the governor’s senatorial ambition will not succeed. He said he would lead protest vote against Ikpeazu. He said categorically he won’t vote for Ikpeazu. But, rather, he would vote the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), a sitting senator representing Abia South constituency in the coming election. Recall that the senator, a top contender for the race has been having a bitter feud with governor Ikpeazu.

It was learnt that the crack in the PDP coupled with the resignation of the vice chairman is fueling the crisis in the party. It was further gathered that the state PDP has many cracks already and that it will be difficult for the party to manage the recent development before the election without some consequences.

Chigbu claims that Ikpeazu has a plan to do eight years in the senate if elected. He said in the telephone conversation that Abia South comprises six LGAs adding that Obingwa where both Ikpeazu and the APGA candidate came from has had the slot for years after Ukwa East, where the former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara hails from had its turn.

He said if Ikpeazu was not aspiring for the senate the PDP in Abia South would not have been so divided. He said he would do everything to dash his ambition. He said the personal ambition of the governor is making it difficult for the slot to shift to other LGAs that have not had it, adding that the same problem is plaguing the Abia Charter of Equity.

Speaking further, he disclosed that more aggrieved members of the party may also leave the party in the coming days.

The PDP has kicked the public utterances of the just resigned vice chairman, insisting he was directed to resign by the party. The PDP has also claimed that it did not owe Chigbu any salary or allowances, News Express has gathered. The party also accused Chigbu of ‘anti-party activities’. In addition, the party said he was of ‘no political value’ in the state. Furthermore, the PDP said Chigbu’s resignation will have no consequences on the chances of the party to victory in elections.

Meanwhile, the NNPP candidate for Obingwa East constituency for Abia State House of Assembly has reportedly stepped down for the APGA candidate.

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