Abia 2023: Abaribe Joins Governorship Race; Obstacles Before Him

By Akinwale Kasali

Not a few people knew he would do it. It was a question of when, not a question of will he.

For months, he has been weaving that basket. His hard opinions. His pronouncements. His tough stand on issues, especially, issues that concern the Igbo, and especially, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB. They were all geared at making himself popular before the targeted group, before any Igbo who feel that Nigeria was short-changing the Igbo.

And, for  about two years, the speculations have been strong that he would.

Finally, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe has let the cat out of the bag. He said he will run for the office of Abia State Governor. That he intends to succeed Governor Okezie Ikpeazu whose tenure is ending on May, 29, 2023.

Abaribe is the Senator representing Abia South Senatorial District in the Senate. He was, also, a former Deputy Governor to now Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Senate Chief Whip. His tenure ended in an untidy manner as both of them fell out badly.

Abaribe, the Senate Minority Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will  contest under the platform of the PDP.

Abaribe made his intention to vie for the Governor of the State public when he visited Governor Ikpeazu at the Government House, Friday.

Already, there are debates if Abaribe will clinch the PDP ticket or not. And, if he would go on to win the Governorship seat if he gets the PDP ticket.

While some people think his getting the ticket is a done-deal, others think not.

The later argue that if he gets it, it will be tough fir him to win. Why?

They argue that he is from the same zone and Local Government as Governor Ikpeazu, and that Ikpeazu, having been the Governor for two terms, the seat should move to another zone.

Yet, such calculations do not work out, atimes.

In Imo State for example, Orlu Senatorial Zone has held the Govership for 16 years and counting. It began with Chief Achike Udenwa who, after his eight years in office as Governor, was succeeded by Rochas Okorocha. After Okorocha’s eight years, he was adamant  that his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, also from  the same Zone will succeed him.

But, a combination of forces stopped Nwosu. While Senator Hope Uzodinma stopped him from picking the APC ticket, forcing him to run under a mushroom party, AA, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, from Owerri zone, was declared the winner by INEC.

However, Ihedioha’s tenure was cut short, after seven months, by a ruling of the Supreme Court which declared Uzodimma, the rightful winner. Uzodimma is from Orlu zone.

It was gathered that Governor Ikpeazu was thrown off balance when Abaribe made his intention known.

A close source said:

“Governor Okezie Ikpeazu was thrown off balance when Senator Abaribe told him about his gubernatorial ambition because he had no idea why they wanted to seek audience with him.

“We learnt that Senator Abaribe just called him to tell him (Ikpeazu) that he wanted to see him.

“The governor thought it was the usual Christmas homage.

“The twist is that we learnt that some of the stakeholders that came with Abaribe didn’t know his mission.

“They too were surprised when Abaribe made his intention known to the governor.”

As Abia 2023 approaches, the race will be between three political parties – PDP, APC and APGA.