The immediate past governor of Abia State, Southeast Nigeria Okezie Ikpeazu, has said the exit of some of his former aides to other political parties remains their personal choice.
Gatekeepers News reports that the former governor stated this on Thursday during the caucus meeting of the party held at the new party secretariat in Umuahia.
Ikpeazu said he has no plans to leave the Peoples Democratic Party but would rather stay with others to rebuild it.
He called for unity of purpose among members of the party in the state to ensure it returns to winning ways.
He said, “We must all take individual responsibility for our performance in the 2023 elections even as our party is going through self-cleansing at the moment.
“I will remain in PDP and will never be found wanting in my responsibilities to our party and its rebuilding process.
“Those who want to leave will leave, no matter what you do, but loyalty is also about the realisation that at some point in time, this party has been good to you.
“It is now time for sacrifice, especially from those who previously benefitted from our party in one way or another as we must all join hands to reposition it.”
Earlier in his address, the state PDP chairman, Asiforo Okere, thanked members who have remained steadfast in supporting the party, especially after the 2023 elections, and reminded them that the party still maintains a majority at the state House of Assembly.
Okere announced that the National Working Committee has extended the tenures of elected ward executives by three months in an acting capacity and the constitution of three committees to handle peace and reconciliation, way forward, and finance.
Last week, Ikpeazu’s six former aides, along with their followers, defected to the All Progress Congress ahead of a zonal caucus meeting of the party.
