Major stakeholders of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from Abia North, Friday, met in Umuahia, and resolved to put behind their differences and work together as a united family.
They also formally accepted the State party chairmanship slot recently ceded to the zone by the State caucus members, and pledged to produce an acceptable and competent candidate that would protect the interest of the zone.
Addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting that lasted for about five hours, the former Leader, ECOWAS Parliament, expressed satisfaction that the stakeholders had all agreed to put the past behind them and work together as a family.
He said: ”We have come to re-affirm our unity and commitment to PDP. We have also accepted the position of State Chairmanship of the party zoned to Abia North.
”We have resolved that we will not allow external influence to decide for us. We want to bring out a candidate that will be truly Abia PDP Chairman of Abia North origin; somebody we can vouch for.
”We also congratulated our House of Assembly members for holding forth. We admonished our members on the need to remain united, and have less acrimony in Saturday’s Ward Congress, and produce acceptable candidates. We can’t continue doing the same thing and expect a different result”.
Senator Ohuabunwa declared that the era of impunity where somebody would stay at the comfort of ones house and write results was over, insisting that the people must be allowed to elect leaders of their choice.
Asked if the stakeholders had endorsed a candidate for the State Chairmanship position being contested for by six aspirants from the zone, the former Senator Ohuabunwa said they would not endorse but could work towards producing a consensus candidate after further engagements with the aspirants.
Corroborating this position, the immediate- past Deputy Governor of the State, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, said the stakeholders had resolved that the era of impunity was over.
He said that henceforth, everybody must be carried along, otherwise any stakeholder or member thinking he could do it all alone would have himself to blame.
Peoplesmind