Abia: Those who worked against PDP in 2023 behind call for Asiforo’s sack – Apugo
By Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Former lawmaker and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abia State, Hon. Chukwudi Apugo, has said that those who sabotaged PDP in the 2023 general elections, were the ones sponsoring the call for the sack of the party’s Chairman in the state, Rt. Hon. Allwell Asiforo.
He also blamed the party’s poor outing at the polls on “internal problems “, and not the Chairman’s incompetence contrary to claims by those calling for his sack.
Apugo spoke on the heels of the recent demand by a group known as Abia PDP Redemption Movement for 2007, that Asiforo be removed, blaming the former ruling party’s woeful outing in the 2023 elections on his alleged incompetence and high-handedness.
But absolving the State Chairman of any blames, Apugo accused some party chieftains who he said worked against the party during the last general elections, of sponsoring the call for Okere’s sack.
Although he noted that some of the issues raised by the group “are somehow true”, he said the demand for Okere’s sack was unnecessary as the party’s congress “is around the corner”.
He said: ” Our Congress is around the corner. We should not be in a hurry to destroy our party the more. My opinion and the opinion of most of our party members is that Asiforo should be allowed to serve out his tenure”.
Apugo who represented Umuahia East state constituency in the 9th Abia State House of Assembly, further argued that it would be unfair to single out the Chairman who was able to deliver his booth, ward and Local Government for the party while other stakeholders who failed in their booths were spared.
” We know the people sponsoring this faceless group. We know the people that destroyed our party during the last elections. Those who were dancing on the streets and celebrating our loss after the 2023 polls should not come back to further destroy the party that is beginning to recover from the misfortunes. We won’t give them any chance!
” From my investigations, those who sabotaged PDP in 2023 are the ones trying to come back through the back door and further destroy the party but nobody will allow them again!”
Hon. Apugo urged the party faithful to remain calm, loyal and united behind the party leadership in the state, assuring that the stakeholders are making spirited efforts to revive and restore the fortunes of PDP in Abia.
” I appeal to our members to be calm. Abia PDP will certainly bounce back as our leaders are making efforts towards that. Internal problems made us lose election in 2023 but those problems are being resolved. We are bringing back our members who went to contest election in other parties, and we will be strong again.
” We have our Leaders, Okezie Ikpeazu; our governorship candidate, Chief Okey Ahiwe; our Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara; Senator Austin Akobundu; Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, and other leaders working tirelessly to rebuild Abia PDP. We will support them, and the party will soon recover”.
He, however, warned that no single individual would be allowed to dictate for the party again in the state.
” No one man will control Abia PDP again”, Apugo vowed.
Apugo said that “Abia is a stronghold of the PDP”, and could not be easily destroyed of rooted out of the state in the state irrespective of the activities of saboteurs.
