Abia PDP set for victory in 2027 – State chairman, Amah

The Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has said that it has identified the reasons why it lost in the 2023 elections in the state and has set in motion machinery to return to winning ways in the state, particularly in Abia North senatorial district.

Abia State chairman of the PDP, Elder Abraham Amah, disclosed this during an Abia North PDP stakeholders’ and reconciliation meeting held at Abam in Arochukwu Local Government Area country home of Hon. Uko Nkole, the immediate past member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency at the National Assembly.

Amah highlighted the reasons to include embezzlement, among others, stating, “We know why we lost the election. We did not lose the election for just one reason, we lost because of several reasons: parties against the party, the Peter Obi wave, wrong candidates, and collecting party money and running away with it.”

He said, “We have done our synopsis at the level of the State Working Committee about the five local councils. There are truths we must tell ourselves – in some local councils, the All Progressives Congress, the PDP and the Labour Party have eaten deep, but I want to assure you that the situation is not bad to the extent that we cannot recover our party. This time, we will recover the party.

“I appreciate the fact that this party has offended some people, a lot of people. I am also aware that there are a lot of people we have not done anything to, who have just decided to pay us back in that form. This party has made some people billionaires, even in Abia North. This party made some people acquire Ph.D. They now dare to speak evil against this party.

“The truth about it is that the people out there know that the worst set of people you contend with are politicians.”

He clarified that an average politician will be happy when things favour him, “even when the process was considered not to be good. Then any day anything goes against him, heaven must fall.”

He appreciated God that the 2023 election is one of the biggest lessons that has happened to the PDP in the state, stating, “If we did not lose that election, a lot of us wouldn’t have a say today. We are speaking today because we lost that election. If we had not lost that election, some people would not have allowed others to sit at the table.”

He enthused that being out of government has taught the party a lesson, adding, “We have known that indeed, failure is an orphan and that success is a favourite of everybody.”

He added that “a mistake was made. I come here as party chairman to appeal to every one of us, let us forgive ourselves and move forward. I assure you we are going to win back power by the grace of God.”

Amah also absolved PDP members of the state House of Assembly of the accusation of gravitating towards the state governor, Alex Otti, stating that they are working with an LP governor and cannot completely be detached from “that LP governor. Once in a while they will interface and should not be interpreted that they want to leave the PDP.”

Kneeling, he pleaded for forgiveness for one another amongst the party faithful to move forward, stating, “We have done the evaluation. Those who lose the election should forget that. Maybe, that is the way God wants it. We have what it takes to make it. We are good to go. Let us move forward and we will recover our mandate.”

The host of the meeting, Nkole said, “PDP has been turned into a breading ground, a nursery for transplant (for other parties). Let us unite Abia North together. 2023 has come and gone. We have learnt our lessons. Abia North appears to have been neglected. Nobody can kill Abia North except themselves. Be grounded, let nobody deceive you, support your party. We are a great party, others are hybrid. Do all you can to reflect the party. PDP is the organic party that has regained its identity. No need to leave the party for others.

The state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Eric Ikwuagwu, said “PDP is the fear of every other political party in Abia State. Whatever is happening in the party is like a tree shedding its leaves and it will regenerate. PDP is the only organic party in Abia.”

In their various speeches, the chairman of the occasion, Okereke Elendu, a former Secretary to the State Government, Eme Okoro, representatives of the five local councils in the zone, as well as other party chieftains urged members of the party to be steadfast as the party will bounce back in 2027 in the zone and the entire Abia State.