The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Abia State, Dame Blessing Nwagba, says she would not step down for any other candidate.

Nwagba said she was more qualified and capable than other candidates standing for the March 9, 2019 governorship election in the state.

She spoke at a Press briefing at the Nsukka Street party secretariat in Umuahia Wednesday, a forum the state party executive used to announce the suspension of chairmen of the 17 local government area chapters of the party.

The 17 local government areas chairmen had on Tuesday, at a Press Conference in Umuahia, announced that they have adopted Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as their choice for the Abia governorship contest.

Consequently, the chairmen advised the SDP governorship candidate, Dame Nwagba to step down for Ikpeazu, saying that they have studied the situation in Abia and found out that she does not have the capacity and capability to match Ikpeazu.

Discarding their advice, Dr Nwagba said: “I have my eyes on the ball. I am runnin g for the election. I am more capable that any other candidate.”

She said the development would not deter her as she was working hard to achieve her goal of becoming the first female governor of the Abia State.

Meanwhile, the Abia State chapter of SDP has suspended the 17 local government chairmen of the party for alleged anti-party activities.

Chairman of Abia SDP, Chief Chidi Nwosu, said the decision to suspend the 17 chairmen was taken after an expanded State Working Committee meeting on Tuesday, adding that a seven-man disciplinary committee has been set up to “further investigate appropriately the actions of the said persons.”

He said that their deputies would assume the position of Acting Chairmen.

Nwosu who read the SWC communiqué signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Mr Ikechi Osindu, said the committee has also expelled one Chuks Abengowe for impersonating “the State Organising Secretary which he is not.”

The communique stated that Abia SDP has dissociated itself from the pronouncement of the chairmen, describing it as anti-party because “it is unilateral and does not represent the position of the party.”

He accused the former chairmen of making “frivolous financial demands from the governorship candidate,” alleging also that when they acted as Agents of the party during the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections, they failed to secure results sheets of the polls.”

“They have lost touch with the major principles of SDP, which, among others provide social justice, good governance and protection of integrity of Nigerians, as well as to protect the constitution of our great party,” the communiqué read in part.

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