By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The gale of high profile defections rocking the Abia state Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, since early 2024, on Wednesday October 2, 2024 continued with its only House of Representatives member, Hon Chris Nkwonta, exiting the party.
The defection of Nkwonta, representing the Ukwa West/ East Federal Constituency, from the PDP to the All Progressive Congress, APC, was announced on the floor of the House by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, during plenary.
The development was, however, immediately opposed by the Deputy Minority leader of the House ,Hon Aliyu Madaki, who also urged the Speaker to declare Hon Nkwonta’s seat vacant .
But Speaker Abbas cited the fractionalization of the PDP as the reason the defection will be accepted .
But much as the existence of factions has been adduced as reason for the defection, not a few observers are persuaded that it was a development foretold.
For one, Hon Nkwonta, since early this year, has been embroiled in a battle of supremacy with his younger sibling, Hon Uzoma Abonta, a four time member of the House of Representatives.
For the record, the immediate past Governor Okezie Ikpeazu had collected the ticket from Hon Abonta and handed same to his brother Nkwonta after the former’s 16 years at the National Assembly.
Hon Nkwonta, this magazine authoritatively gathered, had in the last few months pressed for the sack of his immediate predecessor in office from the PDP for alleged anti-party activities in the count down to the 2023 general elections
Working in concert with some forces within the Akwete Ward Ukwa East Local Government of the PDP, Hon Nkwonta was able to get the party to suspend Hon Abonta.
The Ward Executives had accused Abonta, a known ally of Atiku Abubakar, the party’s Presidential Candidate in 2023, of working against the interest of PDP during the election.
He was specifically alleged to have financed and worked for All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, candidates against his party the PDP .
Of note, in particular, was the allegation that he, Abonta, openly backed Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of APGA against then Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s senatorial ambition.
Furthermore, the Akwete PDP ward leaders had similarly accused him ( Hon Abonta ) of sponsoring a nebulous group that was then pushing for the removal of the Abia PDP Chairman, Dr Alwell Asiforo Okere, his brother from the same Ndoki Ukwa East Local Government.
But Hon Nkwonta was said to be greatly disappointed with the refusal of the Abia PDP State Working Committee, SWC, to buy into the suspension project of his brother, Hon Abonta .
Despite alleging that Abonta was against the Dr Okere-led SWC, the party at the state level refused to endorse the suspension order already slammed on Abonta by the Hon Nkwonta backed Akwete Ward PDP.
The Abia State PDP SWC, this magazine authoritatively learnt, had instead, opted for caution in handling all alleged anti-party activities of members.
The SWC had ,insisted on reconciliation, instead of indiscriminate suspension of members.
However, if Hon Nkwonta believed to be sympathetic to the Nyesom Wike led PDP group was openly disappointed with the failure of the SWC to act against Abonta, he never found funny enough the refusal of Senator Adolphus Wabara ,the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, BOT, to back his aspiration to get rid of Hon Abonta from the party.
Like the SWC, the former Senate President, who is also from the same Ndoki, Ukwa East, with the duo of Hon Nkwonta and Abonta, also declined to back the plot to expel the four time Federal Law Maker from the party .
Impeccable sources revealed that the failure to get Abonta frustrated out of the party resulted in Hon. Nkwonta a close ally of Immediate past Governor Ikpeazu, to tactically withdraw all support for the party in Abia State .
Hon Abonta, in the wake of his suspension by his Akwete Ward Leaders, had dismissed the exercise as neither here nor there .
In an interview with this Magazine, the Law Maker who represented Ukwa West /East Federal Constituency at the green chamber of the National Assembly for uninterrupted 16 years, noted that it was his traducers that will conveniently be accused of gross anti- party activities.
He, particularly, referred to the unpopular decision of the party to abide by its zoning arrangements pre- 2023 elections as the major factor that caused the misfortune of the PDP in the
It was gathered that the appointment of Dr Okere as the Caretaker Committed Chairman of the party in the State after the expiry of its elected tenure in August, accentuated the decision of Hon Nkwonta to exit the PDP.
This Magazine was informed that before the appointment of the Asiforo led Caretaker Committee, Hon Nkwonta had unsuccessfully lobbied to have his people on the Committee.
He is said not to be comfortable with the Okere- led leadership which is believed to also be enjoying the support of both Wabara and Atiku Abubakar .
It was gathered that Hon Nkwonta, who was handed over the PDP ticket in 2023 by then Governor Ikpeazu, ahead of his brother Abonta, may not enjoy same privilege come 2027.
