MAY 19 LG POLLS: Why Haven’t You Held Elections? Allow Otti Start on Good Note, Charles Ogbonnaya Blows Hot At Ikpeazuc

Just few hours to the planned local government election, Chief Charles Ogbonnaya, a stakeholder of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Abia State Chapter has advised the embattled, outgoing Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu to shun the plot to hold local government elections across the State, today, Friday, May 19.

This is even as the long awaited ‘D’ Day, May 29 would, as anticipated, usher in a new administration of the Labour Party, (LP), under the seemingly methodical leadership of his Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, the winner of the March 18 Governorship election.

Grapevine told Famousreporters.com that a handful of the key players in the party have expressed dissatisfaction with the PDP led Government and have, therefore,  unapologetically dissociated themselves from the planned local government election, slated to hold in the State, today, Friday, May 19, 2023, as they, amidst fury, argued what impacts the said election would have on the State.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with famousreporters.com, yesterday, at his Umuahia country home, the renowned, foundation member of the ruling party in the State, without mincing words, urged Ikpeazu to shun the planned election, describing it as a “booby trap” set against the incoming administration of Otti, who has the mandate of the people of the State.

It could be recalled that
an Abia State High Court sitting in Arochukwu had earlier, restrained the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, ABSIEC, from organising the state’s Local Government election scheduled for May 19.

Hear him: “Whether the Court gave an injunction or not, I am one person who says that it’s not in good faith to conduct local government election. What has he been doing all the while? What has he been doing all this while? Why has he refused to conduct local government elections all the while? And what is the need for a local government election now?”

“I align myself with the elders of Abia State that says it’s a booby trap he’s trying to set for the incoming administration.”

The die-hard member of PDP appealed to the Governor and other aggrieved members of the party to harmony, peace and progress prevail in the State, as he called for the unalloyed support of all and sundry to enable the incoming Governor drive the affairs of the State successfully.

The first State chairman of the party and former Commissioner for Local Government affairs who made boast of his effective participation in the formation of the party in the federation, urged Ikpeazu to discard partisanship and do the right thing, so as to avoid sinking the state.

“We must give peace a chance; we must allow Alex Otti of Labour Party (LP) start on a good note. We need to support him. No matter the party you belong to, election has come and gone.
And today, all hands must be on deck to support this administration to succeed”, he insisted.

In a related development, grapevine also told Famousreporters.com that even the immediate past Governor, Chief Theodore Ahamefula Orji, as well as his son, Rt. Hon (Engr.) Chinedum Orji had advised Ikpeazu to allow the incoming Governor, Otti organise the local government election.

‘It seems like there is no going back for the Governor on his set goal, as all efforts geared towards convincing him have been like ‘a bucket of water off a duck’s back’, our source said.

FACT-CHECK:
An Abia State High Court sitting in Arochukwu had earlier, restrained the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, ABSIEC, from organising the state’s Local Government election scheduled for May 19, 2023, according to Vanguard.com (April 18, 2023.

Justice Benson Anya had granted the order in a suit filed by Engr. Nwabueze Onwuneme against ABSIEC , Attorney General of Abia State, Prof. Mkpa Mkpa and Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu.

The order which was granted on March 23, 2023, but obtained subsequently by Vanguard, restrained ABSIEC from organizing or conducting any election or acting on any election timetable or programme pending the hearing and determination of the suit.