Less than 24 hours to the governorship election in Abia State, Chief Chris Nkwonta, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) senatorial candidate for Abia South, has dumped the party’s governorship candidate, Dr Alex Otti, and asked his supporters to vote for Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Nkwonta, who hails from Ukwa-Ngwa zone of the state, according to very reliable sources, met with Ikpeazu’s allies at a popular hotel along Opobo Road in Abia last night and agreed to work for Ikpeazu, where the agreement was sealed.
According to the source, Nkwonta agreed to work for the reelection of Ikpeazu not just because he (Ikpeazu) has done well “but because Abia South must do eight years just as other zones did”.
“I was at the meeting. He agreed to work for Governor Ikpeazu. He said the governor has performed and deserves a second term. He also said despite the fact that he is a member of APGA, he won’t allow anybody deny Governor Ikpeazu, and Abia South by extension, the chance of completing their two terms of eight years. He also said that his wife and Governor Ikpeazu’s wife are best of friends. Though he said he was unhappy because of the outcome of the Abia South senatorial elections, he stressed that the office of a governor is bigger and better than office of a senator.”
Also, Hon. Oracle Nwala, a strong supporter of Otti, has also declared support for Ikpeazu.
“All things considered, this election is about us: our land, our people, our heritage, our pride, our common consciousness and our right to choose our own.
“Please, join me at 4pm as I formally declare my support for Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu at my Country Home, Isieketa. “ Nwala said .
It will be recalled that chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ukwa-Ngwa zone of the state had also declared support for Ikpeazu.
Prince Paul Ikonne, who appeared on a state-wide live radio programme last night, said: “All the leaders and members of APC in Ukwa-Ngwa land have decided to work for the re-election of our brother, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. Orji Kalu was Governor for eight years for Abia North, Theodore Orji was governor eight years for Abia Central, it won’t get to our turn and our brother will do only four years. Blood is thicker than water and we have resolved, irrespective of our party differences, that we will support the re-election bid of Governor Ikpeazu and we have asked our people to vote for him tomorrow.”
