Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abia State, has challenged the deputy governorship candidate of the Young Peoples Party, YPP, Mr Chima Anyaso, to a public debate.
PDP was responding to alleged remarks by Anyaso against the PDP governorship candidate, Professor Uche Ikonne, as well as the PDP presidential flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar, saying they are uncomplimentary.
The party in a release by its Acting Publicity Secretary cum Vice Chairman, Abia North, Elder Abraham Amah, also faulted the result of a recent poll, “Nigeria decides,” which put YPP governorship candidate ahead of the PDP counterpart.
“PDP stands by its position that it will not give credence to any online poll organised outside the purview of the Big Four; Arthur Anderson, Deloitte, PriceWaterHouse Cooper and Ernst and Young even if the PDP is taking the lead. We will not be a party to any attempt to manipulate figures to deceive the unsuspecting public,” the statement said.
PDP challenged the YPP deputy governorship candidate to a live debate with its governorship running mate.
“In contrast, the PDP is ready to test the waters by accepting a debate managed by Abia NUJ for the deputy governorship candidates of the PDP and YPP and challenges Chima Anyaso to take any date in the early weeks of January 2023 and after, that for the governorship candidate of the PDP and any other candidate who is bold to confront the Lion of Abia PDP, erudite Prof. Uche Ikonne.”
PDP insisted that the result of the poll was manipulated to ridicule the party.
“As a responsible corporate citizen, the PDP will continue to engage Abians constructively and never resort to cheap blackmail, valueless propaganda, sponsored and orchestrated blasphemy just to showcase the truth about the beauty of the PDP and the evidence-based performance of the Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu administration which has raised the bar on good governance in Abia State in the last seven years.”
It also told YPP to stop chasing fantasies but concentrate on how to win elections in the state.
“It is worrisome and speaks of lack of direction as typically displayed by the YPP to talk about the presidential candidate of the PDP, a man whose stature towers well and above other presidential candidates, when YPP has no visible presidential candidate and should rather concentrate on trying to win if possible, a councillorship position in one of the many Wards in Abia State, if the association survives till the next Council elections.
“We have always maintained sanity even in the face of unwarranted attacks and provocations, especially by the likes of Chima Anyaso and his aggrieved stock of co-travellers who decamped from the PDP after acquiring a healthy wealth of experience, but disappointingly cannot put it to good use because their motives were never well-intentioned from the onset.”
PDP called on the party faithful and members of the public to disregard “the vituperation of the opposition parties whose penchant has become their resort to cyber-bullying to deceive Ndi Abia without success.”
It said its candidates had the capacity and competence to deliver.
