Following the death of the Peoples Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate in Abia state, the state chapter of the party has zoned the vacant seat to Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, the home Local Government Area of the late Prof. Uche Ikonne.
Recall that Prof. Uche Ikonne gave up the ghost few days ago thereby leaving the party with no candidate for the forthcoming election.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission mandated the party to conduct another primary in the state within 14 days or risk presenting no candidate to replace him for the guber polls in the state,
The decision to replace the dead prof. Ikonne with another person from his LGA was taken by the Abia PDP State Caucus in a meeting on Sunday, according to a statement by Abia PDP Vice Chairman/Acting State Publicity Secretary, Abraham Amah.
The caucus members were drawn from across the State including Abia North, Ikwuano/Umuahia, Ukwa East and Ukwa West Local Government areas.
Among those present at the meeting were the State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu; the deputy governor of Abia State, Dr. Ude Chukwu; former governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Orji; the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Engr. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji; and the other two senatorial candidates of the PDP, namely Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and Austin Akobundu.
Also present at the meeting were the statutory members of the Abia PDP State Caucus except one who sent in an apology for his absence.
The PDP urged members to support the decision of the party caucus and work towards a successful primary election coming up on February 4, 2023.