A former Commissioner for Information in Abia State, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, has dismissed reports that a faction exists in the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party following the absence of some eminent members of the party during the state PDP congress.
The PDP in Abia State had on Saturday elected Elder Amah Abraham as the new State Chairman of the party at its congress.
At the congress chaired by the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Amah, who was the immediate past Vice Chairman of Abia North and acting Publicity Secretary of the party, polled 1,264 votes to defeat his closest rival, Olugu Kalu, who secured 395 votes.
Other contestants included James Okpara, Ambassador Lovin Okoro, Kingsley Imaga, and Chief Ukwu Rocks Emma.
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In an interview with journalists at the event, Kalu explained that some leading members of the party such as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara; the party’s governorship candidate in the 2023 polls, Chief Okey Ahiwe; immediate past Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, among others, could not attend because of other pressing engagements.
He, however, assured that they were part of what he described as the consensus building process that ensured a peaceful congress in the state.
He said: “There is no faction in Abia PDP.
“There is nothing with the absence of some leaders of the party in this state congress.
“We are together.
“The Chairman of the PDP BoT, Senator Adolphus Wabara, is indisposed.
“I’m confident he would have been here.
“The immediate past deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, has been part of the consensus building arrangement leading to this event.
“Others like our governorship candidate in the 2023 poll, Chief Okey Ahiwe, travelled out of the state over a pressing assignment.
“Hon. Uko Nkole has travelled.
“So, there is no faction in Abia PDP.”
Kalu disclosed that the elders of the party had mandated the new executive to pursue aggressive reconciliation to bring back aggrieved members as well as those that left the party.
He said: “Our future in Abia PDP starts from here.
“The elders of the party had given a mandate of aggressive reconciliation to the new executive committee.
“We will knock on all doors.
“Our members have reasons to be aggrieved.
“But there is an existential threat to every Abian that we need to come together to rescue the state because if we don’t, our people will be squashed.”
In an interview after the declaration of results, the Returning officer and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, commended the peaceful disposition of the party delegates, which, he said, ensured a hitch free event.
He also congratulated the winners and disclosed the party’s readiness to take back power from the people they lent it to, come 2027.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman expressed gratitude to the party stakeholders and delegates for finding him worthy to give their votes and for entrusting the party in his hands.
Amah said his emergence would pursue a robust engagement, the reconciliation of aggrieved members, re-echoing the ideas and vision of the founding fathers and as well bringing back those that left the party to make it stronger.
“This is a new dawn for Abia PDP,” he assured.
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