PDP members are urged by Ikpeazu to rebuild the party

Although several of his former aides have left the opposition party for reasons best known to them, Okezie Ikpeazu, the immediate past governor of Abia State, has stated that he has no plans to leave the Peoples Democratic Party.

Ikpeazu made this statement on Thursday during the party’s caucus meeting, which was held at the new party office in Umuahia, the state capital. He pledged to rebuild the party and urged PDP members to have a common goal in an effort to get it back on track as soon as possible.

He said, “We must all take individual responsibility for our performance in the 2023 elections even as our party is going through self-cleansing. I will remain in PDP and never be found wanting in my duties to our party and its rebuilding process.

“Those who want to leave will leave, no matter what you do. Loyalty is also about the realisation that at some point in time, 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.”

Asiforo Okere, the state PDP chairman, commended the party’s members earlier in the speech for their unwavering support, particularly during the 2023 elections.

In addition, Okere declared that the elected ward executives’ terms had been inadvertently extended by three months by the party’s National Working Committee.

Speaking at the same time as Senator Austin Akobundu, a lawmaker representing Abia Central, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, an elder statesman in the state and a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, sued for unity, claiming that there is no faction in the party.

“It is now time to reposition the party and ensure that young members find comfort and space to contribute to the party and leadership in the state,” he advised.

“Abia PDP is still strong, vibrant, and more united,” stated state PDP Vice Chairman and acting State Publicity Secretary Abraham Amah in a post-event interview with Saturday Punch.

Remember as well that last week, during the ruling party’s stakeholders meeting in Umunneochi, ahead of its zonal caucus meeting called by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, at her Umunneochi country home, six PDP faithful and former Okezie Ikpeazu aides, along with their followers, had defected to the All Progress Congress.