Nigeria’s Former Governor Ikpeazu Calls for Party Loyalty Among PDP Members
In a bid to strengthen party unity, Okezie Ikpeazu, the former Governor of Abia State in Nigeria, has urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to remain committed to the party, highlighting loyalty as the highest sacrifice expected of them. The call came during a meeting with top PDP officials from Abia South zone in his hometown, Umuobiakwa.
According to Ikpeazu, the PDP will be unbeatable if the members remain united. He encouraged party leaders in the zone to hold regular meetings at all levels to bolster the party’s structures within the zone, state, and nation, while advising them to resist distractions from critics.
“Loyalty to the party is the ultimate sacrifice we owe to ourselves and to the people we serve,” he emphasized. “Once we remain united, no external force can defeat us.” Ikpeazu lamented that despite his achievements during his tenure as Governor, some individuals still blame him for problems in their lives. “If somebody’s pot of soup sours, they will blame Okezie Ikpeazu as being responsible for it,” he noted.
PDP Vice Chairman for Abia South, Enyinnaya Appolos, echoed Ikpeazu’s sentiments, stressing the importance of commitment and unity among party leaders. “This meeting has provided an opportunity for leaders of the party in the zone to exchange ideas and receive briefing from the former Governor, who remains the state leader of the PDP,” Appolos said. He further called on Abia South PDP leaders to work towards maintaining the party’s dominant position in the region.
Ikpeazu’s message of unity comes as Nigeria’s politics continue to evolve, with parties gearing up for future elections. The PDP, one of Nigeria’s major parties, seeks to consolidate its influence across the country, including the southeastern state of Abia, where Ikpeazu previously held sway as Governor. The ex-Governor’s emphasis on loyalty and unity underscores the challenges parties face in maintaining cohesion, especially after changes in leadership.
The meeting with Abia South PDP officials serves as a reminder of the constant negotiations and discussions that underpin party politics, as leaders and members navigate the complex landscape of alliances, loyalties, and rivalries. For Ikpeazu, the key to success lies in unwavering commitment to the party, a message he reinforced as he engaged with party leaders from his home zone.
