Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Deputy Governor of Abia State, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, has dispelled the rumour making the rounds that he has dropped his 2023 governorship ambition.
The former Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, who dismissed the said rumour as “false and satanic,” vowed never to quit the race for anybody.
He said the rumour was being propagated by mischief makers afraid of his ambition in their desperation to cause confusion and disaffection.
Oko Chukwu said that he was very much on course and very optimistic of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ticket to consolidate on the good works of his principal.
The Deputy Governor who said he still enjoys very warm relationship with his boss added that he was not under any pressure from anywhere to step down for anybody, dismissing the rumour as “a fabrication by busy-bodies.
“These rumours flying up and down should be disregarded. They lack substance and are intended to distract us but we won’t succumb to the machinations of the masterminds.
“There is no basis for me to step down for anybody. I have just submitted my nomination and expression of interest forms to our national secretariat in Abuja. So, I’m very much in the race, and my eye is on the ball,” said he.
The Deputy Governor, therefore, urged members of the public, particularly his supporters, to discountenance the said rumour which according to him only exists in the imagination of the peddlers.
The rumour also swelling that there are plots to impeach him but Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu has since been dismissed by the Governor as untrue, saying he had no plans to remove the former Speaker with whom he has worked very harmoniously.
Abia-North stakeholders led by the immediate past Secretary to State Government SSG, Dr. Eme Okoro, have also warned against any attempt to impeach the Deputy Governor who they said had commited no crime by declaring interest in the governorship race.
Dr. Okoro cautioned members of the state House of Assembly against acceding to any monetary inducement to remove the Deputy Governor based on trumped-up charges.
The former SSG said that Oko Chukwu who is from Abia-North should be allowed to run for the governorship race, arguing that its is their turn to produce the governor in 2023 according to Abia Charter of Equity.
