Ahead of elections to choose the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ad hoc delegates for party primaries, Abia State Chairman of the party, Rt. Hon. Allwell Asiforo Okere, Ph.D, on Wednesday 4th May 2022, received party members who came in their hundreds to pay him a solidarity visit at his office in Umuahia.
The solidarity visit came on the heels of a purported protest at the party office on Tuesday 3rd May, 2022 by a few young men reportedly complaining about their non-inclusion in the process of nomination of members to stand for elections as ad hoc delegates for party primaries.
Addressing the Chairman before party members who turned out in large numbers, a notable youth leader of the party and president of the Abia PDP for Positive Initiative, Mr. Amogu Festus, said that youths and women had come from across the State to reassure Dr. Asiforo Okere of their full support for his transparent leadership and commitment to sustaining internal democracy. He moved a motion for a vote of confidence on the Chairman which received unanimous and loud endorsement by everyone.
On her part, another strong member of the party and leader of United Ukwa La Ngwa Women, Mrs. Beatrice Ugochi Anya, assured the Chairman of the support of women and described as disloyal and delinquent, the action of some young men who attempted to portray a wrong image of the Chairman through their so-called protest the previous day.
Responding, Rt. Hon. Allwell Asiforo Okere thanked the youths and women for standing up to defend the party and its Chairman, and pledged to remain resolute in ensuring that the party conducts free, fair and credible ad hoc delegates elections and party primaries. Describing the action of the said ‘protesters’ a day before as “uninformed and misguided”, he called on all party members to join hands in working towards the party’s overall victory at all levels in the 2023 elections. He thanked the Leader of the party in the State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his unwavering support and said that the PDP remains the only option for genuine, result-oriented leadership in Abia State.
The Chairman was joined by members of the State Working Committee as well as other stalwarts of the party.
