The leadership of the Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced its support for Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar as the presidential flagbearer of the party in the 2023 general elections. But the leadership of the party in the state equally backed the call for the National Chairman of PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu to resign his position. A statement made available by Hon. Elder Abraham Amah, Abia PDP Vice Chairman/Acting State Publicity Secretary said “Abia PDP reaffirms its commitment to the Five over Five Policy of our party aimed at delivering the PDP candidates at all levels from the Presidential through the Governorship, Senatorial, House of Representatives to the House Assembly at the 2023 polls.
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“We call on our members to remain steadfast and trust in the ability of our State governor, His Excellency, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu with his team to mobilise the necessary resources for the peaceful resolution of any challenges facing our Party as well as lead it to a resounding victory at the 2023 general election.” On their position over the leadership crisis in the party, Abia PDP in the statement said “in view of the lingering misunderstanding among different interests and sections in the PDP, the leadership of the Abia PDP calls on our presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON, to constructively engage the gladiators, especially the National Chairman of our great party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu and prevail upon him to do the needful and quietly relinquish his position in the interest of justice, equity, peace, unity and stability of our great party. The demand for the readjustment in the national leadership of the party to reflect its original national outlook and protect the interests of all sections of the country is not extravagant.”
“Furthermore, the Abia PDP considers it distasteful that the South East zone that has been with the Party through thick and thin is being left out of the scheme of things in the Party, giving credence to the perception that the Nigerian State and its agents are under conspiracy to always marginalise the South East.