Sources say part of the deal for Ikpeazu to defect to the APC is to wedge his predecessor, Theodore Orji who is now a Senator and his son, Chinedum, who are believed to have sponsored his election and exerts great influence on his administration.
Ikpeazu is also said to be jittery that
some leading members of the PDP with massive followership in the state such as Chief Tony Ukasanya, Dr. Chris Adighije, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, among several others, have since defected to the APC and vowed to deliver the state to their new party. Besides, some ranking members of the PDP in the state have been severally reported of being unhappy with Ikpeazu’s alleged style of only patronizing his Obingwa kinsmen and have decided to remain in the party to teach him a lesson in 2019.
According to 247ureports, the governor has been meeting with APC chieftains and eminent Nigerians over his decision to dump the PDP on which he was elected to office. It was further gathered that ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo who recently visited Abia state for a burial ceremony at Abiriba from where he stormed Aba to commission some road projects, is also part of the dignitaries Ikpeazu had lobbied to help him ‘soften the ground’ for his entry to the APC.
The report say few weeks after assuming office, Gov. Ikpeazu already has some chieftains of the APC on his payroll including the State chairman of the party, Hon. Donatus Nwankpa who are said to be disposed to having the governor joining the party as soon as possible.
Ikpeazu is said to be optimistic that his deal with the APC would work out smoothly since the state party chairman, Hon. Donatus Nwankpa and the APC governorship candidate, Dr. Nyerere Anyim who is Gov. Rochas Okorocha’s ally, hails from the same Ngwa clan with him.
According to a chieftain of the APC in the state who pleaded anonymity:
“Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu knows he cannot win a second term if he stays in PDP. It is a fact that the APC will take over Abia state in 2019. This is why he is contacting APC chieftains. I assure you that Gov. Ikpeazu would have long defected to the APC, were it not for the election petition case filed by the APGA candidate, Dr. Alex Otti. As soon as the matter is over, Gov. Ikpeazu will join APC. You can take that from me.
“Gov. Ikpeazu has been a friend to the APC in the state. Have you seen where the APC leadership has ever criticized Gov. Ikpeazu or has he not done anything to warrant criticism from us in the opposition? We take him as one of us.”
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