I have no intention to leave PDP, IKpeazu tells APC

By Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state has said that his rumored intention to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) remains a hoax, pointing out that he is comfortable with the PDP family.

This is coming as about 3,000 persons from the APC and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) declared for the PDP at a stakeholder’ meeting held in Umuahia on Sunday.

According to the governor, mere mentioning of his name as one of the governors from the South East that may join APC soon is an indication that, “I have performed excellently, prompting other political parties to seek for ways to woo me into their fold”.

Ikpeazu spoke in Umuahia at the backdrop of various statements from many quarters that he would soon join the APC.

The Abia State chief executive explained that PDP stakeholders’ meeting was a stocktaking event as well as an avenue to welcome the newly elected local government council chairmen and their deputies into the fold.

The governor stated that the PDP would soon swallow other parties in the state because of the even spread of developmental projects and democracy dividends spread across the by his government.

On the meeting, Ikpeazu explained that “what drives political organizations is meeting and we decided to officially welcome our newly elected council chairmen and their deputies into the stakeholders’ forum. We apprised the latest developmental strides vis-à-vis the issue of governance”.

Fielding questions from newsmen, PDP National Organising Secretary, retired Col. Austin Akubundu said the meeting afforded him the opportunity to explain to the stakeholders what the policies and agenda of the new PDP were as well as to assure Abia stakeholders of their protection in the party as their representative in the national secretariat of PDP.

The state chairman of the party, Asiforo Okere described those who left the party as moles who had always wanted to destroy PDP before leaving.

“One or two persons who left PDP did so ‘because of long throat’ and it is wishful thinking to assume that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu will leave PDP”, he said.

“In fact, very soon many more in their thousands will leave APC and join PDP, including the remnants of APGA. Those that defected to other parties are moles and we are happy that they left”.

However, a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of PDP in the state, Fabian Nwankwo said no critical stakeholder of the party was contemplating leaving the party, adding it was wishful thinking to assume that any chieftain of the party intended to leave.

The statement reads:  “Following a spate of fables and innuendos in our dear state, Abia that some people in our fast rising and great party, the People’s Democratic Party, are defecting to other inhabitable and declining parties, PDP has come out stronger and more resolute than ever.

“This is exemplified by the meeting of stakeholders held in Umuahia where the crème de la crème in Abia politics were in attendance, including those rumoured to have left the party.

“They all showed strong presence, denouncing the innuendoes and beer parlour gossips of PDP losing membership to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) which are speedily fading away in Abia State.

“The State PDP Stakeholders’ Meeting turned out as a big unifying factor of family members that have remained united, undaunted, focused, strong and reliable since 1998 when it was formed.

“Thousands of card carrying members of APC and APGA used the forum to join PDP and more are being expected.

“We recalled that major PDP officers from the local government areas of the state to the national levels as well as elected and appointed leaders led by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Deputy Governor Ude Oko Chukwu, Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, and T A Orji, National Organising Secretary, Col Austin Akobundu, House of Representatives members, Speaker Abia House of Assembly  Chinedum Orji, State PDP Chairman Asiforo Okere, Chief Emma Nwaka, Chief Tony Ukasanya, Prof Greg Ibe and other eminent personalities too numerous to mention attended the meeting.”