Politics

Abia guber: PDP to hold fresh primary as time runs out on Ikone

Published

3 years ago

January 18, 2023

Despite efforts by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State to re assure on the health of the PDP guber candidate Prof Uche Ikone, the party may hold another primary to get a new candidate.

Though the Electoral Act appears silent on the incapacitation of a candidate, a legal practitioner who spoke to EverydayNewsngr.net suggested that substitution is still possible.

He sited section 33 of the Electoral Act which states inter alia that “a politcial party shall not be allowed to change or substitute it’s candidate whose name has been submitted under Section 29 except in the case of death or withdrawal…in this case a political party shall within 14 days hold a fresh primary to produce and submit a fresh candidate to the commission…..”

Reliable sources confided in this medium that Ikone’s situation is feared to be serious that he may not be able to stand for the election.

Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has however dismissed the claims of incapacitation of the PDP candidate expressing hopes that he would soon bounce back for the campaigns.

Ikpeazu, while speaking as a guest on Flo Fm Radio audience participatory program ( The People’s Parliament) in Umuahia on Monday, disclosed that Ikone took ill after the PDP flag-off campaign in Umuahia which was held on November 24, 2022.

According to the governor, Ikone “is a little bit indisposed at the moment, but he’s recovering gradually and progressively.”

He revealed that the PDP governorship candidate had left the hospital, but now going through a period of convalescence, assuring PDP faithfuls that Ikonne will soon bounce back to join the campaign train.

According to Ikpeazu “You remember by the time we had the biggest rally that happened here in Umuahia when the G-5 governors came to flag off our campaign, Prof. Ikonne was there, he was in the gala night and very fit. The gala that was held in honor of the G-5 in my house till 2am. So when he came for that rally he was just able to manage to give a speech and then he took ill, no other governorship candidate has mounted the podium before such a mammoth crowd in Abia up till now and it is unfortunate that he’s a little bit indisposed but I want to report some progress and the progress is that Prof. Ikone is recovering gradually and progressively, he has left the hospital and he is going through convalescence.

“I am sure that he will be strong in the future to join the campaign. But be that as it may PDP is a very very strong powerful party, there’s no other party that has that kind of strength, and as i speak we are going back to our wards to campaign again.”

Except Ikone bounces back as Ikpeazu expects, the party may have to go into a fresh primary and our source reveals that the Governor is desperately searching for a replacement.

Our source reveals that there’s anxiety as time appear to be running out on both the candidate, Ikpeazu and the party.

Politics

Anambra Communities Boil As Group Carpets Traditional Rulers Over Zoning

Published

2 days ago

May 8, 2026

Everydaynewsngr

By Okey Maduforo, Awka

Ten communities that make up Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State are set for a showdown with their traditional rulers following the alleged suspension of the zoning arrangement for the Anambra State House of Assembly elections.

Recall that on April 7, 2022, the traditional rulers, in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), resolved that the House of Assembly seats for Anaocha I and Anaocha II constituencies would rotate among the ten communities, with each town occupying the seat for two terms.

The traditional rulers further resolved that the rotation would subsist irrespective of the political party through which lawmakers emerge, noting that the arrangement was aimed at ensuring that all ten communities have the opportunity to produce members of the State Assembly in the interest of equity and fairness.

However, the Anaocha Equity Forum, shortly after its meeting, expressed concern over the alleged suspension of the zoning arrangement.

Speaking, the Convener of the Anaocha Equity Forum, Mr. Valentine Okoye, said the forum would not take kindly to what it described as acts capable of destabilising the council area, adding that any such move would be resisted.

“This is a Memorandum of Understanding signed by our traditional rulers, and it has been respected until now. We in the Anaocha Equity Forum see this as a slap on the sensibilities of the ten communities that make up the area,” he said.

“We urge members of the public, political parties, and stakeholders to disregard the alleged position of the traditional rulers, as it does not represent the views and aspirations of our people.

“Our traditional rulers should be mindful of their roles as fathers of their respective communities. They should also understand that they would be held responsible for whatever backlash or consequences may arise from this recent position.

“We call on Governor Charles Soludo to call the traditional rulers to order so that the peace currently enjoyed in Anaocha Local Government Area will not be disrupted,” he stated.