From Chuks Onuoha, Umuahia
Abia State Deputy Governor, Ude Oko Chukwu, has said the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is the only party that is firmly rooted in all the 184 political wards of the state.
He said the popularity of the party has endeared it to the people of the state and that it will still defeat the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general elections.
He added that, with the return of some chieftains of the party, who defected to the opposition during the 2015 elections, the PDP has established itself ahead of the 2019 elections. Chukwu told newsmen “Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is a bridge-builder who does not practise politics with bitterness” and enjoined the opposition to “heed the governor’s call” and “join hands and build the state.”
The deputy governor also said the PDP in Abia is one big family, and described those who defected to the opposition in 2015 as men who took ‘decision in the heat of anger’ and made mistakes.
“PDP is still one big family with its structures intact and firmly rooted across the 17 local government areas of the state. The issue of questioning the chances of the PDP in the 2019 general elections is just asking questions for asking sake. PDP’s chances are bright as always.”
In 2011, we returned 100%; Presidency, governorship, three senatorial, eight House of Representatives and 24 State House of Assembly seats. In 2015, we lost some ground, but you can see that some of our members who left for the opposition are now retracing their steps back to the party. In 2019, PDP is set to repeat the feat,” he said.