The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State has declared in clear terms that it is behind the party’s presidential candidate in the forthcoming 2023 general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
The latest declaration by the Abia PDP comes on the heels of the recent withdrawal by some party chieftains as members of the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organization.
According to reports that the camp of Governor Nyesom Wike had insisted the party’s national chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, worked for the emergence of Atiku Abubakar.
The former vice president won the presidential ticket at the PDP primary, which was held in late May in Abuja.
After a meeting early Wednesday morning, the Wike camp said Ayu exposed himself through the comment he made after Atiku was declared the winner.
However, while making its position known in a release on Saturday on the current infighting in the party, the Abia PDP reiterated that the state would give its maximum support to Atiku in his determination to lead Nigeria in 2023 and restore it to the path of enduring growth and development.
The press release was signed and issued to newsmen in Umuahia by Abia PDP Vice Chairman, who also doubles as the acting State Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon Elder Abraham Amah.
According to the release, “the Abia PDP believes that a certain adjustment in the leadership of our great party to accommodate the interests of southern Nigeria and create a high sense of belonging within the party is more than imperative at this moment.
“And in the spirit of justice, equity, and fairplay, a southcentric adjustment in the leadership of our party would help rally the disperse interests to secure a better deal for us at the great battle of 2023.
“Our position on this matter is that a peaceful approach without resorting to this tug of war would be the most ideal in resolving the fundamental challenges that confront us.”
The Abia leadership further reaffirmed its commitment to the Five over Five Policy of the party aimed at delivering its candidates at all levels of the political leadership of Abia State through the presidential, gubernatorial, senatorial, and House of Representatives at the 2023 elections.
The party called on members to remain steadfast and trust in the ability of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu with his team to mobilize the necessary resources for the peaceful resolution of any challenges bedeviling the party as well as lead it to a resounding victory at the forthcoming general elections.