The momentum of politics in this God’s
own state has shifted to the All
Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA).
That movement away from the PDP could
be blamed on the governorship primaries
of the party. For, prior to the process of
selecting the governorship flag bearer of
PDP, it was generally held that Governor
Theodore Orji was in full control of the
party structure, more so when his
declaration of support for zoning enjoyed
the confidence and acceptance by the
major political stakeholders. However as
the primary elections held, it dawned of
the stakeholders, especially the gladiators
that Governor Orji had settled in his mind
who to favour for certain positions
especially for the governorship and
senatorial seats. First, the governor was
accused of hoarding the list of delegates
and carrying out accreditation at different
centres. It was also later alleged that the
election of three-man delegates from the
wards did not take place even as the
governor had gone on air to declare that
the process was peaceful. While
expressing his happiness with the
peaceful way the party delegates
conducted themselves, the governor
declared that “they cast their votes in an
atmosphere that could be described as
free and fair”. And in a way very similar
to what former Governor Peter Obi did inn
Anambra State during the governorship
election, Governor Orji showed his
preference for Okezie Ikpeazu, who was in
charge of the Subsidy Re-investment
programme (SURE-P) in the state. But
while Obi involved stakeholders from
Anambra North senatorial district, to
which the governorship was zoned, Orji
kept his choice close to his chest. As
aggrieved party faithful petitioned the
PDP national leadership, the governor
allowed the Senator representing Abia
South, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who
contested the governorship primary
automatic return ticket, thus dousing the
growing bitterness in the party. But
instead of extending such generosity to
Senator Uche Chukwumerije in Abia North
Senatorial district, the governor settled
for Hon. MAO Ohuabunwa, who he has all
along been tipped to replace the
irrepressible Chukwumerije in the Senate.
And as Chukwumerije referred to the pact
PDP NWC had with governors that atleast
two serving senators should be allowed
automatic return ticket, agents of the
state circulated the rumoured death of
the third term senator. It was at that
point that many of PDP stakeholders
especially those that aspired to contest
for various elective positions on the
platform, including Chief Alex Oti and Dr.
David Onuoha-Bourdex moved over to
APGA en masse. Yet while the animosity
over the fall out of the party primaries
lasted, most of those disenchanted with
the curious state of affairs in the state
whipped anew fresh sentiments about the
governor’s neglect of the commercial city,
Aba. The outcome of the governorship
selection process was therefore tied to
Governor Orji’s “continuous disregard for
the development and environmental
sanitation of Aba”. And tracing Oti
antecedents as a ‘bonafide Nwa-Aba’, it
did not take long for the former Banker,
who emerged as APGA governorship
candidate, to become the new singsong
as the next governor of Abia State.
However the little snag is that Chief
Reagan Ufomba, is also in the shadow as
rival APGA governorship candidate, having
emerged on the platform of the faction of
the party led by Chief Maxi Okwu. There
are currently some small talks in Umuahia
that the ruling party may weigh into the
pending litigation over APGA leadership to
cause confusion in the party and stem
the tide of growing APGA popularity in the
state. One other issue affecting voter
considerations in Abia is the unrelenting
supremacy political battle between Orji
and his benefactor and former Governor,
Orji Uzor Kalu. The former governor’s
supporters are spread out in PDP and
Progressive People Alliance, (PPA) which
fielded a governorship candidate; those
who are still in PDP may influence votes
either way. And unless something
untoward happens, the fact that the
governorship election in Abia is being
seen as a referendum on Governor T. A.
Orji’s tenure; the state is sure to take a
third lane in subsequent elections after
the presidential poll.

op u such a big fool, how sure am I that u are from abia and here u are talking trash....... nonsense thread! apga is dead, come Feb...... apc will take over abia