Guber Candidacy, Running Mate Saga Tears Abia PDP Apart As Mass Defection Looms

The crisis rocking the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, seemed to have deepened as more chieftains of the party are planning to dump the party.

They have cited poor leadership in both the party and the state as their reason for dumping the party.

Our correspondent gathered gathered that a National Assembly member of the party will in matter of days announced his new political family.

This is traceable to the choice of governorship candidate of the governor, Okezie Ikpeazu. He was accused of picking a candidate from Abia Central instead of Abia North who is not popular.

A source said, “Most of the leaders are not with the governor right now. Governor Ikpeazu is alone as it is today except some Councillors and Council Chairmen who are not popular in their areas.

“Can you point at any popular leader with the governor outside JOK (John Okiyi Kalu)?

“Can you imagine the governor picking an Umunneochi man as the running mate of an unpopular Ikonne? How can such ticket fly? People are leaving everyday, while others are staying behind to scuttle the chances of the party.”

He added, “More people are planning to leave the party. Even if the governor wanted an Ngwa person to succeed him, he should have gone for Nana Nwafor instead of this old man. Abia PDP is collapsing; even the youths are leaving. Are you seeing anyone defending the governor on facebook outside PUO (Promise Uzoma Okoro)?

“The party is practically dead in Abia North. How many voters are in Umunneochi? Ikpeazu must act now to save the party from collapsing,” he said.

Prominent chieftains of the PDP that dumped the party include the former Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA); Member representing Isialangwa Federal Constituency, Hon. Darlington Nwokocha (LP), Member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Hon. Sam Onuigbo (APC); Member representing Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbo Federal Constituency, Hon. Solomon Adaelu (APGA).

Others are Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, member representing Isialangwa North State Constituency (LP); Prof. Greg Ibe, Pro-Chancellor of Gregory University and now governoship candidate of APGA; Engr. Enyinnaya Nwafor, Dr. Chima Anya, Chief Fred Eke and many others.