BREAKING!! Abia By-election: Tension in PDP as More Parties Unify Structures, Endorse APC’s Mascot
Kenneth Udeh
Ahead of Today’s March 27th Aba North and Aba South house of Representatives bye- election, some political parties in the state have aligned and collapsed their structure to support the candidate of the All Progressive’s Congress, APC, Mascot Uzor Kalu.
In a joint statement signed by the state chairmen of the political parties; Victor Umunnah of the Allied People’s Movement,APM and Joseph Ulu of the National Rescue Movement,NRM said during a Solidarity visit yesterday evening to the campaign headquarters of Mascot Uzor Kalu organisation in Margaret Avenue Aba, said that” the move became pertinent to ensure victory for APC and Mascot in the election.
The candidates of the parties Abraham Junior Okogbua and Uwandu Emmanuel Chima were also present and announced their decisions to step down from contesting in the election and throw their weight behind Mascot.
The parties said that the decision was made to oust the ruling People’s Democratic Party from the state, by ensuring that it’s candidate fails in the bye election. They disclosed that the Ikpeazu led PDP has performed abysmally in delivering good governance to the people of the state.
They said the collaboration is a comprehensive struggle to save Abia State from the political quagmire and undesirable socioeconomic predicament.
According to him “Political parties participating in the House of Representatives rerun 2021 election in Aba ,Abia state have resolved to back the APC candidate, Mascot Uzor Kalu, for the poll.
“The ideals of our party are in tandem with that of the APM and the NRM as such we believe that only Mascot of the APC can offer true leadership and representation at this present austere period.
“There is no gainsaying that the present political leadership in Abia state can be best described as nothing but horrendous and torturous characterised by the non payment of salaries to workers and gratuities to pensioners coupled with the collapse of infrastructure in the state.
“This collaboration is an organised effort to save Abia state from the political quagmire and undesirable socioeconomic predicament of our people.
“The two political party leaders, therefore, resolved to work as a team in tandem with the APC well-captured manifesto for the welfare, well being and life more abundant for the good people of Aba Federal constituency.
Expressing his gratitude to the group, the Chairman of APC in the state, Hon Donatus Nwanpka, lauded the group for their decision to join the winning train and said “ we are overwhelmed and humbled by your decision to join us in this struggle, like said recently during our campaigns this beyond party affiliation of Mascot our candidate, this is movement to save Abia from shackles.
Meanwhile, yesterday the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC, has confirmed four hundred and ninety-eight thousand, three hundred and ninety registered voters for the bye-election in Aba North-South Federal Constituency in Abia State.
The bye-election is meant to get a replacement for late Aba North-South federal lawmaker, OSSY CHINEDU PRESTIGE, who died on February 9 this year.
INEC National Electoral Commission, FESTUS OKOYE, confirmed that all materials for the conduct of the bye-election this Saturday have been delivered.
OKOYE, who doubles as Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, also said six hundred and nine polling units across two local government areas would be opened for the election.
Meanwhile, there is palpable panic within the PDP following the visible rejection of its candidate Chimaobi Ebisike and his abysmal performance during the campaigns, raising concern of his electoral value.
Ebisike, who was booed and deserted by Aba residents during his campaign flag-off has been receiving similar treatment at several campaign grounds where he visited. Except PDP members who move with him from ward to ward, the venues are usually empty.
A Chieftians of PDP, who spoke to IgbereTV on condition of anonymity said “the elders of the party are disappointed with Governor Ikpeazu over his selfish imposition of Ebisike, a JSS drop-out, who can not even win an ordinary councilorship election on the Party for a keenly contested Federal seat. The governor appears to have an ulterior motive, only time will tell.”
