A new group, Ndigbo for PMB 2019, has been inaugurated in Abia State, aimed to mobilise support for the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari, come 2019 presidential election. The group has Prince Paul Ikonne, a former commissioner in Abia State as its National Coordinator, while Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike, immediate past Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly as its Chief Coordinator for Abia State. Inaugurating the Abia State and Local Government Executives of the group at the Wonderlands Event Centre Umuahia, the former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Azubuike stated that the group has no political party identity but open to all, pointing out that the Igbo’s needed to avoid the mistakes of 2015. Hon Azubuike added that the Igbo’s needed to key into the centre in order to receive a fair share of the national cake. He urged the new executives to ensure proper mobilisation and education of the people. Rt. Hon. Azubuike however, added that he had not left his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but assured that his group would harvest Abians’ vote for the President .Earlier in his address, the National Coordinator for the group, Prince Paul Ikonne cautioned Igbos against repeating the “mistake of 2015” and dismissed the claims of marginalization against the Igbos. He promised that the “5 percent votes” recorded by the President in 2015 would gain a quantum leap to 99.9 per cent. Prince Ikonne noted: “What we should talk about is project and enabling environment, because President Buhari gave us four key senior ministers in the federal cabinet, and don’t forget that he had picked our brothers as his running mate in the past but yet some people still claim he hates us.”

Prince Ikonne equally assured that President Buhari was feat to stand election, while assuring that other state chapters of the group would also be set up. Ikonne reminded the Igbos that the best chances of Igbo man to rule the country would be in 2023 when the President completes his second term in office. The event was attended by some top politicians drawn from different political parties, while the new executive members for the 17 local government areas promised to deliver the President in 2019.

Those inaugurated by the National Coordinator Prince Paul Ikonne include:

Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike – State Coordinator; Dr. Nwele – Secretary; Hon. Prince Ikedi Ezekwesiri – Publicity Secretary; Hon. Ndukwe Ojukwu - State Youth Leader; Mrs. Ngozi Obidi – State Women Leader; Mrs. Lovina Okpara – Treasurer; Arc. Nnamdi Chidiebere – Ex-officio; Hon. Chuks Amalaha – Ex-officio; Hon. Orji kalu Okorie – Assit. Secretary.

The LGA Coordinators are: Hon. Stanley Madukwe – Aba North; Mr. Nkeire Chibuzor – Aba South; Mr. Abel Okwara – Arochukwu; Ochiobi Christain – Bende; Emele Henry – Ikwuano; Godwin Iroegbu – Isiala Ngwa North; Darlington Oba – Isiala Ngwa South; Prince Onyemereze Adighikachaya – Obingwa; Hon. Ndubuisi Nkobi – Ohafia; Chief Chinatu Solomon – Osisioma; Choice Osisike – Ugwunagbo; Nmeregini Paul – Umuahia North; Hon. Francis Okamgba – Umuahia South; Dave Rufus Odor – Ukwa East; Prince Geofrey Ogbonnaya – Ukwa West; Chief Chidiebere Ude – Umunneochi and Chief Ralph Ukoro – Isuikwuato.

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