By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Abia State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has stated that the Party members who formed the nucleus of Members of the Conference of Former Speakers that visited the Abia State Governor Dr Alex Oti on Friday, March 8, 2024, and the statements credited to them were made in their personal capacities and do not represent the views of the PDP in Abia State .
The PDP also has rejected speculations linking the said visit with plans by its members involved in the visit to dump the Party. The Party insisted that its members who participated in the said visit did so in line with their rights to freedom of association as guaranteed by the different declarations on human rights at the international, national and local levels.
The Source reports that the Conference of Former Speakers, Abia state, on Friday, March 8, 2024, visited and lauded Governor Oti for his performance within the short period in office, and assured the Governor of their readiness to partner with him in moving the state forward.
According to them, what is paramount at the moment is not politics ,but how to ensure that Abia State is sustained on the path of growth and development ‘ promising to avail the Labour Party LP led Governor Oti’s administration useful advice when ever needed.
The Conference of Former Speakers, as presently constituted is dominated by PDP members including the immediate past Deputy Governor Sir Udo Oko Chukwu , thus fueling insinuations about some of them joining ranks with the ruling LP in the state .
But in statement issued by the PDP Vice Chairman/ Acting Publicity Secretary, Hon.Abraham Amah, on Sunday March 10 and made available to The Source the party said it is laughable to speculate that its members who were part of the visit are planning to defect to the Lab our Party..
“What is even more laughable is the suggestions that the PDP in Abia is no longer intact because its members who belong to a non- partisan organization paid a visit to the Governor.
“The Abia PDP wishes to clear the air on the visit and set records straight to disappoint those who wish to see it dismembered.
“The Conference of Former Speakers is a non partisan organization made up of eight members . Of the number ,five belong to the PDP ,while three are of the APC and two of the PDP members Rt Hon Dr Alwell Asiforo Okere and Rt Hon Engr Chinedum Orji did not embark on the said visit .
“We state in clear terms that the members who went to visit the Governor and the statement credited to them were made in their personal capacities and do not represent the views of the PDP
“We are aware that the Conference made a similar visit to a PDP Governor in the North East region a few weeks ago and that they are also planning to visit another PDP Governor in the South South in the coming days .
“Does it now suggest that the APC members of the Conference who visited the North East Governor ,the Governor of Abia state and the planned visit to the South South Governor are planning to defect to the PDP and or LP?
“Such laborious speculations about decampment of PDP members is insulting to those who peddle such unfounded fantasies because the PDP recognises that everyone is at liberty to join any party he or she desires at any time and there fore would not restrain any one.
“For the PDP such rumours go a long way to reinforce our undiluted strength and immutable capacity to the point that even when we are no longer in power people always feel jittery when our members cough.
“The Abia PDP uses this opportunity to reassure its teeming, members sympathisers and the good people of Abia state that the party remains firm,intact and unshakable and would continue to provide credible measures to strengthen our democracy,” the PDP statement noted.
