Controversy Trails Abia PDP Assembly Primaries As Over 7 Members Lose Re-Election Bids

Controversy has trailed the PDP House of Assembly primaries in Abia state as over 7 sitting members of the House failed to secure tickets which would enable them fly the flag of the party at the February 28 State Assembly election.

In the 24 member legislature, out of the 16 members that sought
re-election, only 9 emerged candidates of the party from their different
constituencies. Those who won include Deputy Speaker, Asiforo Okere( Ukwa
East); Tony Nwaubani (Ukwa West); Blessing Nwagba (Aba North); Kate
Maduako (Aba Central); Nkemdirim Iheasinmuo (Aba South); Emeka Alozie
(Osisioma Ngwa South); Martin Azubuike (Isiala Ngwa North); Emeka Ejiogu
(Umuahia North) and John Ogele (Isuikwuato)

Those who lost are the Chief Whip, Ikechukwu Nwabeke (Osisioma Ngwa
North); Princewill Onuoha (Obingwa East); Emeka Osoagbaka (Ikwuano); Mba
Ukaha(Ohafia South); Ikedi Ezekwesiri (Umunneochi); Chidi Nwosu (Umuahia
South). The Leader of the House, Chidiebere Nwoke who was seeking a fourth
term withdrew at the morning of the primaries through repeated
announcement on the state radio.

The remaining members who did not seek re-election are the Speaker, Rt.
Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu, (Ohafia North); Grace Uche, (Umuahia Central), Uche
Nwankpa (Obingwa West) and Ndukwu Ojukwu (Bende North); while the Deputy
Leader, Princewill Onyegbu (Bende South); Humphery Azubuike (Ugwunagbo);
Darlington Nwokocha (Isiala Ngwa South) and former speaker, Agwu U.Agwu
(Arochukwu) are seeking tickets for the House of Representatives to
represent Bende, Obingwa/ Osisioma Ngwa/ Ugwunagbo, Isiala Ngwa North/
Isiala Ngwa South and Arochukwu/ Ohafia federal constituencies,
respectively.

Pointblanknews.com gathered that power play characterized the election in
most constituencies leading to majority of the lawmakers kissing the dust.
In Osisioma Ngwa council area, some of the stakeholders including the
state deputy chairman of the party, Chief Allen Nwachukwu was said to have
resisted the third term ambition of Dr. Ikechukwu Nwabeke, who remains one
of the most vibrant legislators ever produced in the state. In Obingwa
East state constituency, it was a bitter experience for Princewill Onuoha
whose third term ambition fell like a pack of cards as he lost woefully to
a former member of the House, Solomon Akpulonu.

Sources hint that Onuoha was the architect of his own misfortune as he is
said to have abandoned the camp of his benefactor and two time deputy
governor of the state, Chief Eric Acho Nwakanma. The sources added that
with a strong candidate like Akpulonu, a former member of the House known
for his political wizardry, Onuoha stood no chance without the former
deputy governor’s support when all the stakeholders in the constituency
were falling over themselves to back Akpulonu’s return. Nwakanma who is a
PDP governorship aspirant is said to be annoyed with Onuoha for abandoning
his camp for that of his rivals.

The same power play also affected Hon. Emeka Osoagbaka, a first term
member representing Ikwuano state constituency as he was said not to be in
good books of the stakeholders in the area including the PDP National Vice
Chairman South East, Col. Austin Akobundu who withdrew their support for
him.

In Umuahia South state constituency, Hon. Chidi Nwosu’s attempt to enjoy a
third tenure also crashed as he failed to get the support of stakeholders
like the former PDP national chairman, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor. It is no
surprise that he lost to the former TC chairman of the council, Jerry
Uzosike.

One of Nwosu’s constituents who gave his name as Lucky said the former was
openly pleading with the stakeholders and delegates to support him because
he was sure of emerging Speaker of the House in 2015 but the people
rejected him because according to them, he could not be trusted. In
Umunneochi constituency, Ikedi Ezekwesiri was alleged to have lost as a
result of his poor relationship with his constituents.

Another factor which played a determining role in the election was the
issue of rotation of political offices among the electoral wards of the 24
constituencies of the state. Sitting members like Mba Ukaha, House Leader,
Chidiebere Nwoke, and Chief Whip, Dr. Ikechukwu Nwabeke were said to have
lost as some stakeholders insisted that they must give way to others to
have a share of the national cake.

Out of the 9 returnees, Deputy Speaker, Asiforo Okere (Ukwa East) appears
to be a cat with nine lives as nobody gave him a chance against the fierce
onslaught of the former senate president, Chief Adolf Wabara, ASOPADEC
chairman, Chief Emeka Stanley, among other chieftains of the party who
were said to have vowed that he won’t get a fourth stint at the House.

Among those who resigned state government appointments to run for the
elections, former Information and Strategy Commissioner, Eze Chikamnayo
who contested the Umunneochi state constituency seat could not get the
support of his people while former Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief
Cosmas Ndukwe was returned as the PDP candidate for Bende North state
constituency.

For now, there have been jubilations in the camps of the successful
candidates while those who could not make it lament their fate even as
majority of them continue to allege that they were schemed out of the
contest.