Abia Guber Primary: PDP Goes After Ikpeazu for Supporting Wike

Abia Guber Primary: PDP Goes After Ikpeazu for Supporting Wike

  • Governor Okezie Ikpeazu faces political oblivion as there are plans to punish him for being a member of the G-5
  • Sources within the party say the forthcoming Abia PDP governorship primary will nail the coffin of the governor's political career
  • There are indications that the national leadership of the party will not allow the governor handpick his choice during the exercise

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FCT, Abuja - A report by Vanguard indicates that the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have decided to begin a crackdown on the G-5 governors starting with Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the Abia state governor.

Party insiders say Governor Ikpeazu, who is also a senatorial candidate for the party in his state, could be on the “firing line” within the next two weeks.

Read also

5 Abia PDP chieftains likely to contest party's rescheduled governorship primary election

Atiku and Okezie
Governor Ikpeazu's second attempt to handpick his successor maybe frustrated by Atiku's associates in Abia state. Photo credit: Abia state government
Source: Facebook

A source quoted in the report said:

“There will be a governorship primary and it is only the national chairman and secretary that can write INEC, it is the Ayu-led NWC that has the constitutional responsibility to conduct this primary.

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“Ikpeazu will be fighting the political battle of his life to handpick another successor because there are many interests within and outside Abia now at play.”

The source said the party leadership and PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar will be interested in who becomes the candidate because the party’s overall interest is at stake.

Thus, it might be difficult for Ikpeazu to have his way in handpicking his preferred aspirant.

Atiku’s camp, Ikpeazu in fresh battle over Abia PDP guber ticket

The Nation reports that Ikpeazu and supporters of Atiku in Abia are already at loggerheads over the replacement for Prof. Ikonne.

Read also

PDP crisis: Atiku's men launch fresh strategies to cripple Wike's G-5 govs ahead of polls

According to the report, both sides are said to be doing everything within their power to ensure that the party’s governorship candidate emerges from their ranks.

Atiku’s supporters, sources said, are determined to prevent the governor from having his way on this time around.

How PDP youth group called for Ikonne's replacement before his death

Recall that before Ikonne's death, the PDP Youth Movement on Tuesday, January 24 called for his replacement.

The youths had alleged that Ikonne displayed his frail health status at the Abia state PDP campaign kick-off at Umuahia sometime in November 2023.

The youths led by Salahudeen Lukman, president, Gbe Benjamin Orduen, national secretary and Elekwachi Joshua, coordinator, southeast zone had also called on the party to replace Ikonne immediately.

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

Meanwhile, 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.

Read also

2023 elections: Wike gets final answer on Ayu from Atiku's campaign team

Nabena, a former deputy spokesman of the APC, said 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.

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.