Abia Guber: What PDP must do urgently

Chinwe Ugele, Umuahia.

With the sudden death of the gubernatorial candidate of People’s Democratic party in the March 2023 election in Abia state, Prof. Uche Ikonne, the party must conduct an emergency primary election to choose who will replace him before the general election.

Ikonne died from multiple cardiac arrest attacks at the national hospital Abuja according to the family.

However painful the loss may be to his family and supporters at this time, everyone must accept the reality on ground.

For PDP to be on the ballot for the race in the state, it must produce another candidate who will fly the party’s flag.

This emergency primary election must be conducted at least one week before the election.

The old Electoral act would have suggested that the aspirant who came second in the first primaries take over.

The party will also decide whether it still wants to continue with Late Ikonne’s running mate- Barr. Okey Igwe or shop for another replacement.

There are claims that the stakeholders already started shopping for Ikonne’s replacement.

The party will in the coming days resume processes of primary election which may become even more toxic than that which produced Ikonne.

Recall that the primary election that produced Ikonne caused the exit of some party members who raised concerns over the manner of the exercise. Some of whom are gubernatorial candidates of other political parties.

Some names have been tipped to be the party’s choice, but the role the governor, Okezie Ikpeazu plays in all of this will show whether his preferred replacement wins or not.

Will the governor influence the emergence of another candidate?