Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elders in Abia State may have resolved to address the controversy resulting from last week’s zoning of the state governor position to Abia North and Abia Central senatorial zones by the party.

In a communiqué, made available to The Guardian yesterday, after its meeting in Umuahia, the Elders Committee supported wholly the party’s decision on zoning of the governorship in 2023 to the two senatorial zones.

The document signed by Chiefs Tony Ukasanya (Chairman) and Emma Ibegbulam (Secretary) also directed aggrieved members of the party to channel any grievances and misgivings through proper party channels for clarification.

It also passed confidence vote in the leader of the party in the state, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, and the State Working Committee (SWC) led by Dr. Asiforo Okere, who is also the state party chairman, including affirming the election of Ukasanya and Ibegbulam as the chairman and secretary of the committee’

Other decisions taken by SWC and State Executive Committee (SEC) of the party were also upheld by the communiqué.

Since the announcement of the zoning arrangement, there have been discordant reactions. While some held that the office should rotate among three senatorial zones, such that Abia North would start another round of rotation from 2023, some rejected it, arguing that the new zoning arrangement was not discussed by the party’s constitutional organs and agreed upon before it was announced and given immediate effect.