ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, Uche Aguoru has denied insinuations about a purported rift between Professor Uche Ikonne and ex-Abia Governor, Senator Theodore Orji, over the Abia 2023 gubernatorial ticket.
Reports had surface online on Tuesday that Senator Orji, who currently represents Abia Central District in the National Assembly, is opposed to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s choice of Ikonne as the Abia State governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections.
Recall that Ikonne, a former Vice Chancellor of Abia State University Uturu (ABSU), was declared the winner of the concluded governorship primary elections conducted by the leadership of the PDP in Umuahia township stadium on 25th of May, 2022.
Ikonne polled 468 votes to defeat other contestants jostling for the party’s gubernatorial seat ticket.
The result was announced by Peter Ayo Fayose, the chairman of the Abia State PDP Gubernatorial Primary Election Committee and former Governor of Ekiti State.
Aguoru, the media aide to the PDP candidate, while speaking with newsmen in Umuahia, maintained that there was no feud between both party leaders.
He also affirmed that Senator Orji and other major leaders of PDP are strongly united in their support towards ensuring the emergence of Professor Uche Ikonne as the next Abia State governor, as well as victories of all candidates of the PDP in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
His words: “Let me tell you, these great party leaders, Distinguished Senator T. A Orji, Chief Charles Ogbonna and other notable leaders are solidly behind the gubernatorial candidacy of Prof Uche Ikonne.
“Also, there are no internal squabbles in the fold of Abia PDP, or whatever differences between these great leaders, or opposition against Governor Ikpeazu’s choice of Ikonne.
“If there are existing feuds or oppositions against Ikonne’s emergence by these great leaders, Senator Orji, Ogbonna, and all the rest wouldn’t have accepted their appointment into the Abia State PDP Campaign Council.
“I can confirm to you confidently and authoritatively that Senator T. A Orji is a member of the state advisory campaign council of the party.”
He said further: “I would want to use this medium to urge good people of Abia State to disregard this falsehood and cheap propaganda orchestrated by disgruntled and unscrupulous Individuals to unnecessarily heat up the Abia polity, because of imminent defeat staring at their faces.”