Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, has said that Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, will not support the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Ahmed Bola Tinubu, in the 2023 election.
Reacting to speculations making the rounds that Governor Ikpeazu is not happy with the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Commissioner assured that Ikpeazu won’t support the APC candidate.
Okiyi Kalu who disclosed this in Aba, explained that the speculation that Ikpeazu is among four Governors that will support Tinubu only exists in the imagination of the people spreading the rumour.
He stated that Ikpeazu only wanted the leadership of the PDP to accommodate all zones of the country in pre and post election periods, stressing that the Governor’s position does not suggest that he will leave PDP or back Tinubu in the election.
Okiyi Kalu further disclosed that the Abia state Governor believes that rectifying the anomalies in PDP will give the South East a foothold to level on what is in it for them in a potential PDP led federal government.
He said; “Rumour mongers should stop wasting their time speculating on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s position in the 2023 presidential election, whether he could support Tinubu of APC or not. If they know Governor Ikpeazu, they won’t mention his name in the same sentence as voting for Tinubu of APC or working for his victory. That won’t ever happen. As someone who has worked closely with Governor Ikpeazu, I can easily say that Tinubu and APC will not even be second or third choice for him if he actually feels greatly discontented with his party, the PDP.
“Governor Ikpeazu has made his position known in public and private engagements with party leaders at state and federal levels that he is in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the long haul.
“The speculation that Governor Ikpeazu is among four Governors that will support Tinubu only exists in the imagination of those spreading the rumour. Governor Ikpeazu has made his position known in public and private engagements with party leaders at state and federal levels that he is in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the long haul.
“That Governor Okezie Ikpeazu only wants his party leadership to dredge up courage to accommodate all zones of our country pre and post election periods do not in any way suggest intention to leave PDP or back Tinubu in any form or manner. He used the analogy of raising alarm about the need to fix the faults in the vehicle, PDP that is expected to convey us to political Canaan Land. However, he also stated that if his advice is ignored that he will board the faulty vehicle with the burden off his shoulder in case the inevitable happens.
“Governor Ikpeazu believes that rectifying the anomalies will give those of us from the South East a foothold to level with our people on what is in it for them in a potential PDP federal government; otherwise it will become difficult though not impossible to win.”
