Election: ‘Why PDP failed to regain power in Abia – Chieftain, Awa

From Chinedu Emeruwa, Abia

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abia state, Jerry Awa, has said that the alleged refusal of the leadership of the Party to shift its governorship seat ticket to Abia north senatorial district, caused the party’s loss in the 2023 elections.

Awa noted that the failure to zone governorship to Abia North by the party’s leadership gave the room for emergence of unpopular candidates, who allegedly failed to demonstrate capacity in securing victory in the last gubernatorial, state and national assembly elections.

The PDP chieftain, Awa made this known while interacting with The Nations News Nigeria on Tuesday.

The former Vice Chairman of Ikwuano Local Government Council Area in Abia State, decried the persisting clashes of interests among members of the party in Abia and urged the major stakeholders to shun bickering and come up with a well defined template, where all interests would be accommodated and given a level playing ground.

“It’s quite unfortunate that at this moment, the so-called leaders could not close ranks, and they are still fighting themselves.The people the PDP leadership gave her tickets are not the right people. They doesn’t have the capacity, muscle, and grassroot base to win election for PDP. A Lot of mistakes were done by the party. Many stakeholders were against each other.

“And also, the zoning system did not go the way it suppose. The PDP governorship ticket suppose to Abia north zone because, Abia central and Abia south have taken their shot for eight years each.

“The former governor, Okezie Ikpeazu insisted power shift to ngwa extraction in Abia central senatorial zone;no problem about it. The major thing was to get a credible candidate who can win gubernatorial election who know the minds of the masses, and know what people want.

“Nobody should blame Otti or blame anyone that labour party and Otti won the Abia gubernatorial seat poll. If mr A did not win, mr B will win. The major thing is to support any goverment that is moving not to criticise them”, Mr Awa added.

Awa called on the party leadership to allow the youths to steer the affairs of the party, adding that they possessed the requisite capacity and wherewithal to restore the lost glories of the Peoples Democratic Party, which were mismanaged by those entrusted with people’s mandate.

“Our party should look at how to carry along younger ones. There are some younger ones who know this business; who know what it takes. We have suffered for the party.You understand. The so-called caucus leaders and BoT members have failed the party.

“Most of them does not have followership and suport base at the grassroots. What they do, they always direct from where they are. But this time around, we are not going to take that kind of leadership any longer in PDP. Most of the youths are not happy because of the way they were being treated in PDP. We’re watching them. The so- called leaders cannot toy us again”.

Awa however admonished the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party to reconcile aggrieved members and come up with a well-defined template that will accommodate all interests so as to ensure the party’s success in future electoral competitions.

“The leadership should do the needful and forget this rancours, bickering and indoor meetings.

“The leadership should come up with a template and platforms where every member of the party will be involved and benefit. Politics is not about one person, it’s about service to the people”,he stated.