Former Abia State Commissioner for Information John Kalu has dismissed reports that a faction exists in the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party following the absence of some eminent members of the party during the state PDP congress.

The Abia PDP had, on Sunday, November 3, 2024, elected Amah Abraham as the chairman of the party in the state.

In the congress chaired by the deputy governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Amah who is the immediate past vice chairman of Abia North and acting publicity secretary of the party, polled 1,264 votes to defeat his closest rival, Olugu Kalu, who garnered 395 votes.

Other contestants included James Okpara, Lovin Okoro, Kingsley Imaga, and Ukwu Rocks Emma.

In an interview with journalists at the event, the former commissioner said some leading members of the PDP including the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Adolphus Wabara, the party’s governorship candidate in the 2023 election, Okey Ahiwe, and the immediate past deputy governor, Ude Oko Chukwu, among others, could not attend because of other pressing engagements.

He, however, stated that they were part of what he described as the consensus-building process that ensured a peaceful congress in Abia State.

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Kalu said: “There is no faction in Abia PDP. There is nothing with the absence of some leaders of the party in this state congress. We are together. The Chairman of the PDP BOT, Senator Adolphus Wabara is indisposed. I am confident he would have been here.

“The immediate past deputy governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, has been part of the consensus-building arrangement leading to this event. Others like our governorship candidate in the 2023 poll, Chief Okey Ahiwe, travelled out of the state over a pressing assignment. Hon. Uko Nkole has travelled. So, there is no faction in Abia PDP.”

Kalu said the PDP elders had mandated the new executive to pursue aggressive reconciliation to bring back aggrieved members who left the party.

The former commissioner added: “Our future in Abia PDP starts from here. The elders of the party had given a mandate of aggressive reconciliation to the new executive committee. We will knock on all doors.

“Our members have reasons to be aggrieved. But there is an existential threat to every Abian that we need to come together to rescue the state because if we don’t, our people will be squashed.”

Speaking after the declaration of results, the Returning Officer, Ewhrudjakpo, commended the “peaceful” disposition of the party delegates which the deputy governor said ensured a hitch-free event.

The Star