Elections: PDP Youths Call for Replacement of Abia Governorship Candidate, Prof Ikonne

Elections: PDP Youths Call for Replacement of Abia Governorship Candidate, Prof Ikonne

  • There are loud calls within the PDP calling for Professor Uchenna Ikonne's replacement as the party's governorship candidate in Abia state
  • Some youths in the party alleged that Professor Ikonne's health is fragile and can't withstand the rigours of governance
  • The young party chieftains, insisted that Ikonne's health challenges might cause the PDP the governorship election

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Umuahia - The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Youth Movement on Tuesday, January 24 called for the replacement of Professor Uchenna Ikonne as the party's governorship candidate in Abia state ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Addressing selected media houses in Abuja, the youths alleged that Ikonne displayed his frail health status at the Abia state PDP campaign kick-off at Umuahia sometime in November 2023.

Ikonne
Prof Ikonne has not publicly spoken on his rumoured ill-health. Photo credit: Abia PDP
Source: Facebook

They lamented that he was taken for treatment since then and he is yet to return.

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The group warned the national leadership of the party to reconsider the “failing health” of Prof Ikonne, and find a replacement for him.

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The briefing was addressed by Salahudeen Lukman, president, Gbe Benjamin Orduen, national secretary and Elekwachi Joshua, coordinator, southeast zone.

They said:

“The credible alternative before our party remains the substitution of runner up of the PDP Abia state gubernatorial primary election as consensus candidate to replace the ailing Prof Uchenna Ikonne.
“This became very sacrosanct and imperatively important to enable the good people of Abia and PDP members in Abia state continue to stand with our great party.
“Any attempt to impose or continue foisting on them a proven incapacitated individual as gubernatorial candidate will amount to deliberate ridicule, insensitivity and gross wickedness on the state despite their long time loyalty and firm support and believe in our great party since inception of the 4th republic in 1999.”

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UPDATED: Yahaya Bello denies report of withdrawing support for Tinubu

2023 elections: PDP G-5 governors politically irrelevant, says Nabena

On his part, Yekini Nabena, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain has warned the party's leaders having a chummy relationship with the G5 governors of the PDP to retrace their steps.

Nabena, a former deputy spokesman of the APC, says the aggrieved governors from the opposition party are inconsequential.

The Bayelsa-born APC chieftain stated unequivocally that the governors have no major influence on voters ahead of the elections.

2023: UN, ECOWAS caution Nigeria against election violence

In a related development, the United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States on Tuesday, January 17, warned Nigeria against violence in this year’s general elections.

They gave the warning in Jos, Plateau state, at a mediation training and interactive engagement with some stakeholders.

The international organisations also stated that Nigeria can't afford any crisis because it would also affect the West African region.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Jerrywright Ukwu avatar

Jerrywright Ukwu Jerrywright Ukwu is an Abuja-based senior political/defence correspondent. He is a graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos and the International Institute of Journalism in Abuja. He is also a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. He spends his leisure-time reading history books. He can be reached via email at jerrywright39@yahoo.com.