From TCNEWS
The immediate past Governor of Abia state, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu said, on Thursday, that his party, People’s Democratic Party, PDP would overcome its internal challenges and get stronger.
Ikpeazu, who spoke in Umuahia during a stakeholders meeting of the party at the party secretariat at Ogurube layout, also described those that had decamped from the party to other political parties in the state as political featherweights.
He vowed that the era of imposition was over in the party and the party which is undergoing the rebranding process would now allow the members choose its leaders.
The former Abia governor assured the party faithful in the state of brighter days ahead.
Speaking also, the leader of the party in the state and senator representing Abia central senatorial district, Chief Austin Akobundu, described the party’s oncoming rebranding process as a move that will put the party in proper form and shape.
Akobundu who pointed out that plans are in motion to reorganize and reposition the Abia PDP for effective and efficient leadership of the state, posited that in the new PDP that is being envisaged, power would be handed over to the youth.
According to him, There will be a generational change where young people would be given the mantle leadership because the future belongs to them.
“My assurance is that we’ll not leave you desolate, we’ll always be with you as long as you’re faithful. Be hopeful and work hard because PDP despite the challenges of losing the 2023 governorship election will soon bounce back to reckoning.
He pointed out that those that had left the party would not be allowed to take the front seat should they return but would be made to queue behind those who had stayed during the rebranding process.
Also in his speech at the event, the state chairman of the PDP, Rt. Hon. Asiforo Okere, who described the turnout of the stakeholders’ meeting as monumental, urged the members of the party to remain resolute and continue with their support for the party.
He expressed joy that despite the PDP not being in power in both the federal and Abia State governments, large number of people still believe and serve as its members.
Okere used the opportunity to announce that the PDP in Abia State will on Saturday, May 25, 2024 hold a reception rally for former Senate President, Adolph Wabara at the Umuahia event centre; even as he named the immediate past Deputy Governor, Hon Ude Oko Chukwu as the chairman of the Central Planning Committee for the rally.
Briefing newsmen at the party’s secretariat shortly after the PDP’s stakeholders meeting in Umuahia, the acting Publicity Secretary and Vice Chairman, Abia North, Elder Amah Abraham, explained that the party has realized that it made some mistakes during the period it was in power and has therefore set the process in motion to correct such mistakes.
Abraham who acknowledged the fact that the party did not engage wholly in the welfare of the people, observed that their opponents capitalized on this weakness to wrestle power from the PDP during the 2023 polls.
Reacting also to the defection that rocked the party recently, Abraham said, “It is customary for an Iroko to shed its leaves during the dry season. That doesn’t mean the end of the tree but to create an avenue for the tree to grow new leaves. In the past few months, our party has witnessed some shedding. It’s a necessary change which we are managing.
“Nature abhors vaccum. People left the party but in the coming days, more political heavyweights will be joining the party to replace the ones that left. Once you vacate your seat, another will definitely take over”.
He assured that the PDP is intact and unshakable.