The immediate past governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, has affirmed that he will not leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), despite the recent mass defection in the state.

Recall that a few days ago, the Chief of Staff to Ikpeazu, Prof. Anthony Agbazuere; a former Commissioner of Information under Ikpeazu, Eze Chikamnayo; and a former member of the House of Representatives, Uzo Azubuike; among other PDP stalwarts dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Clarifying his stands at a PDP caucus meeting held at the new PDP secretariat in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, on Thursday, April 4, 2024, Ikpeazu said he would stay with others to rebuild the party.

The former governor also called for unity of purpose among PDP members in the state and charged the party members to ensure that the party quickly returns to winning ways, stating that the exit of some of his former aides to other political parties remains their personal choice.

He said: “We must all take individual responsibility for our performance in the 2023 election even as our party is going through self-cleansing at the moment.

Ex-Gov Ikpeazu: I’ve never received pension since I left office

“I will remain in PDP and will never be found wanting in my responsibilities to our party and its rebuilding process.

“Those who want to leave will leave no matter what you do but loyalty is also about the realisation that at some point this party has been good to you.

“It is now time for sacrifice, especially from those who previously benefitted from our party in one way or another as we must all join hands to reposition it.”

Also speaking at the event, the PDP Chairman in Abia State, Asiforo Okere, thanked members who have remained steadfast in supporting the party, especially after the 2023 election.

Okere added that the party still maintains a majority in the Abia State House of Assembly even when the election was conducted on the same day with the governorship election the party lost.

He said the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party has extended the tenure of elected ward executives by three months in an acting capacity and the constitution of three committees to handle Peace and Reconciliation, Way Forward and Finance (PRWFF).

The Star