Nnaya Eziyi, Umuahia
Over 400 kinsmen of Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu in Obingwa Local Council have embraced and adopted his main challenger in the 2015 governorship election, Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as their candidate for the 2019 election.
Their leader, Ibe Onyenso stated this during a victory rally organised by the state chapter of APGA in honour of Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano in the November 18 governorship election at its secretariat in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.
Onyenso announced their defection from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which he accused of hypocrisy and grounding the economy of the state, saying many others from the area were waiting in the wings to join them.
He said their “considered timely action is predicated on our collective dissatisfaction with the performance of the governor almost three years in office”, assuring that they would ensure victory for Otti in the forthcoming election in the area.
Speaking at the occasion, Obiano said the victory was a pay-back by the people for delivering on his campaign promises and sticking to the party’s manifesto , adding that he would use his second term to consolidate on the achievements of the first.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Solomon Chukwulobelu, Obiano said the party was poised to conquer the entire South East states and by extension the entire country to show the difference between it and the other parties.
According to him, “What we are doing in the state is a clear testimony that we are the only party in the country that has the remedy for the country’s challenges,”adding that its winning secret was nothing but delivering on its campaign promises.
Similarly, Otti expressed happiness with the outcome of the election which he said was a clear indication of the confidence of the people in Obiano “by winning majority votes in the entire 21 local government areas” and the party as a platform for sustained development in the state.
He said by their choice of Obiano for a second term in such a historic manner, Ndi Anambra, had stood firm and ensured that they used the power of light which their PVC represented to defeat the united power of darkness which election riggers represent.
“I want to assure you that the burning desire to replicate and even surpasse the Anambra leadership example in Abia State is very much alive, hence the need for all of us to remain optimistic , committed and steadfast in our quest to herald Abia state of our dream” he said.
In his address of welcome, the state Chairman of APGA, Augustine Ehiemere, said they were working hard to take over the state in 2019 “to deliver democracy dividends to the people and to liberate them from economic bondagd and misrule by the PDP.”
