Chairmen of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 17 local government areas (LGAs) of Abia State, has adopted Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, as their candidate in the March 9 governorship election.
The group, led by Chief Chijioke Ozems, the chairman of the party in Isiala Ngwa South LGA, announced the adoption to newsmen at the state secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Umuahia on Tuesday.
Ozems advised Mrs. Blessing Nwagba, the SDP governorship candidate in Abia State, to step down honourably for Ikpeazu, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said: “We are doing this for posterity sake, we are doing this for the future and for equity.
“We have seen the security of this state as led by the governor.
“We have seen that she (Nwagba) is from Abia State South where Ikpeazu also comes from.
“We also appeal to her to step down honourably for the governor of Abia state.”
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News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nwagba and the state party chairman, Mr. Chidi Nwosu were not present at the briefing.
The council chairmen, however, had no explanation for the absence of the state party executive from the briefing.
They denied the allegation that they were bought over to adopt Ikpeazu, when the party had its candidate for the poll.
According to Ozems, “nobody gave anything to anybody.”
“We are not saying that Nwagba is not capable. We are also 100 per cent loyal to the party and the party chairman.
“We want to move our state forward. We are saying let there be equity. So we are joining hands with our people from Abia State North to have one voice.”
Mr. Chukwudi Abenguwe, the party’s state Organising Secretary, also denied the allegation that the action of the chairmen amounted to anti-party activity.
Reacting to the development, Nwagba dismissed the alleged adoption of Ikpeazu as “a mere rumour,” saying she was still in the race.
Also, the State Chairman of the party, Mr. Chidi Nwosu, took exception to the briefing, saying that the action of the chairmen lacked the backing of the state executive of the party.
He said that the decision to adopt Ikpeazu, when SDP had its own governorship candidate, ought to be taken by the party’s executive and not the LGA chairmen. (NAN)
