ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Report has surfaced that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State may hold another primary election as its guber candidate Prof Uche Ikonne, is sick.
Despite efforts by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State to reassure on the health of Ikone, the people are suggesting another primary election.
Though the Electoral Act appears silent on the incapacitation of a candidate, a legal practitioner told EverydayNewsngr.net that substitution is still possible.
He sited section 33 of the Electoral Act which states inter alia that “a political 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 his medium that Ikonne’s situation is feared to be serious that he may not be able to stand for the election.
But Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has dismissed the claims of incapacitation of the PDP candidate expressing hopes that he would soon bounce back for the campaigns.
While speaking as a guest on Flo Fm Radio audience participatory program ( The People’s Parliament) in Umuahia on Monday, Ikpeazu disclosed that Ikonne took ill after the PDP flag-off campaign in Umuahia which was held on 24 November, 2022.
According to the Governor, Ikonne “is a little bit indisposed at the moment, but he’s recovering gradually and progressively.”
Ikpeazu revealed that the PDP governorship candidate had left the hospital, but now going through a period of convalescence, assuring party faithful that Ikonne will soon bounce back to join the campaign train.
He said: “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. Ikonne 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.”
However, except Ikone bounces back as Ikpeazu expects, the PDP in Abia may have to go into a fresh primary, as source reveals that Governor Ikpeazu is desperately searching for a replacement.
The source further disclosed that there’s anxiety as time appears to be running out on both the candidate, Ikpeazu, and the party.