Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has said that the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, which lost the 2023 elections, will be rebuilt from the ward level in the state.
Ikpeazu, who stated this while addressing PDP faithful in Umuahia, the state capital, urged the party to ignore those who have defected from the PDP to other parties and remain steadfast in rebuilding the party to reclaim the state.
Stressing that the PDP will be rebuilt from what he described as ‘bottom to top, the former governor, who was the senatorial candidate of the party for Abia South Zone in the 2023 polls, assured that the party would soon commence visits to the 184 political wards in the state.
He said, “Portfolio doesn’t make a man, what makes a man is what is inside him. A bad man is a bad man, no matter what you give him. We know the people who defected to other parties. Nothing is wrong with our party. Let them take away what they have gotten from the PDP. What is left in the PDP is okay for us.
“We will rebuild from the ward level, from bottom to top. We will rebuild this party from the grassroots. I urge the youth and grassroots leaders of the party to hold fast to their wards. We are coming to meet you in your wards. You are the ones who will decide what will happen at the party. On election day, nobody can be in two polling units; you will only be in your own unit while others will be in theirs.
“I’m not interested in writing any lists. In my ward, I’m going to consult with women and youths, who are the ones who will choose leaders for the party. Whoever they choose to be leaders will be the ones to lead. The PDP will survive on our faith, loyalty and resilience. The cries of workers and Keke riders in Abia State have reached God.
“We are asking God to once again use us as a tool to recover our dear state. Abia is our collective patrimony; we won’t leave it for anybody. We are not afraid of anybody. Whatever they do, we stand where we are.”
