Ikpeazu did not snub Atiku by not attending Enugu PDP parley, says Abia PDP

Abia State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said that absence of the state governor and its leader, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, does not suggest snubbing the presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who was in Enugu on Tuesday to engage top South East party members in a parley.

While confirming the absence of Ikpeazu from the meeting, the Vice Chairman/Acting Publicity Secretary of the party, Amah Abraham, who declared that the process of reconciliation in the crisis-ridden party is in top gear, noted that Ikpeazu did not snub the PDP presidential candidate by being absent from the meeting.

Abraham, in a statement, debunked a Newspaper report that alleged that Ikpeazu snubbed Atiku, stating that Abia PDP regards the report as misleading.

“For the sake of clarity, the notice for the meeting came at short notice, which the presidential candidate himself acknowledged during his speech at the occasion, and even commended the organisers, who mobilised the entire leadership and stakeholders of the South East PDP at such a short notice.”

He explained that despite that Ikpeazu was already on official assignment outside the country when the notice for the meeting was released, he “mobilised the entire structure of Abia PDP through the State Chairman, Alwell Okere, and ensured full representation even as the Deputy Governor, Ude Chukwu, duly represented Ikpeazu.”

The party Spokesman added that Abia PDP governorship candidate, Prof. Uchenna Ikonne, his running mate, Okey Igwe, state PDP Senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates were all in attendance to show support and commitment to the presidential candidate of the party.

He argued that if Ikpeazu had any intention to snub Atiku, there was no way he would have allowed the entire Abia PDP structure to attend the parley.

Abraham said: “Ikpeazu, being a man that speaks his mind no matter the circumstances, has, on several occasions, publicly lent his support to Atiku’s presidential ambition, but insists that the right things must be done; one of which is the resignation of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as the National Chairman of PDP for justice, equity, fair play and peace to prevail in the party.”