Ahead of the February 4 governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, there are indications the party may have fewer aspirants as consensus talks continue among the party’s stakeholders.
Okey Ahiwe, Chief of Staff to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, this medium gathered, is the favourite to emerge as consensus candidate given the tremendous goodwill he enjoys from the governor.
A member of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, confided in THE WHISPERER that PDP will do everything possible to avoid the mistake of the primary that produced late Professor Uchenna Ikonne.
According to him, building an early consensus would make the party gather the required momentum for the 2023 elections on time.
“Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is zeroing down to his Chief of Staff, Okey Ahiwe. He is from Isialangwa just like the late Professor Uchenna Ikonne.,” the source said.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had announced the zone to produce its governorship candidate in Abia ahead of a fresh primary.
The former flagbearer, Prof. Eleazar Uche Ikonne died on January 25 after months of battle with a protracted illness.
The PDP already scheduled February 4 as the date for the election to pick a new standard bearer for the March 11 polls.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had directed the party to conduct a fresh primary within 14 days of Ikonne’s death.
A statement by Elder Abraham Amah, Abia PDP Vice Chairman, announced that members of the State Caucus met on Sunday.
The gathering, after deliberations, zoned the seat to Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area where the late Ikonne hailed from.
The meeting was attended by PDP leaders from across the State, including Abia North, Ikwuano/Umuahia, Ukwa East and Ukwa West Local Government areas.
