Former Governor of Abia State Okezie Ikpeazu has assured members of the Abia State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, caucus that he has no plan to leave the party, saying he would retain other members to rebuild the umbrella party in the state.
Ikpeazu, who spoke during a caucus meeting held at the new PDP secretariat at Onyerubi Crescent in Umuahia, called for unity of purpose among members of the party in the state to ensure that the party quickly returned to winning ways, stated that the exit of some of his former aides to other political parties remained their personal choice.
“We must all take individual responsibility for our performance in the 2023 elections even as our party is going through self-cleansing at the moment. I will remain in PDP and will never be found wanting in my responsibilities to our party and its rebuilding process.
“Those who want to leave will leave no matter what you do but loyalty is also about the realization that at some point this party has been good to you. It is now time for sacrifice, especially from those who previously benefitted from our party in one way or another as we must all join hands to reposition it,” he said.
Earlier in his address, the state PDP Chairman, Asiforo Okere, thanked members who have remained steadfast in supporting the party, especially after the 2023 elections, and those who have refused to leave PDP, pointing out that the party still has a majority number of members in the Abia State House of Assembly despite losing the governorship seat.
He announced that the National Working Committee of the party has extended the tenures of elected ward executives by three months in an acting capacity and the constitution of three committees to handle peace and reconciliation, way forward, and finance.
Also speaking, the Senator representing Abia Central, Austin Akobundu, stated that while people were free to leave and join a political party, the PDP in Abia State is a movement that nobody could kill.
Top members of the PDP in Abia, including former Chief of Staff to Ikpeazu, Anthony Agbazuere; former commissioner for information and strategy, Eze Chikanmayo; former House of Assembly member, Jerry Uzosike; among others had in recent weeks, defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Labour Party, LP.
