2027: PDP begins battle to reclaim Abia

The Peoples Democratic Party in Abia State has formally commenced its campaign for the 2027 governorship election, with its campaign council chairman, Amb Empire Kanu, declaring that the Labour Party-led administration is only a temporary occupant of the Government House.

Kanu made the declaration on Tuesday during the inauguration of the management team of the PDP Governorship Campaign Council in Umuahia.

The former Nigerian Ambassador to Argentina, who chairs the council, said the PDP remained the dominant political force in the state and was determined to reclaim power in 2027.

“PDP is not a new party. PDP is Abia, Abia State is PDP. Labour is just holding that position temporarily,” he said.

Kanu said the party had learnt from its defeat in the 2023 governorship election and would not repeat the mistakes that led to its loss.

“We knew what happened (in 2023) and that mistake will never happen again. You have a very serious candidate in the person of this young man, Dr Anosike. He is very, very ready,” he stated.

The campaign council chairman urged members to concentrate their efforts at the ward level, describing the wards as critical to the party’s electoral success.

“You know where we normally get our votes? It’s at the ward level. So that is where we should work. Once you deliver at the ward, we have won,” Kanu said.

He expressed confidence that the PDP would return to the Abia Government House, arguing that the current administration and its party were standing on shaky political ground.

The council’s Director-General, Chief Obinna Nwachukwu, also pledged to work tirelessly to return the PDP to power.

“We know why we lost the election because we were not intentional in the last election. And this time, we are going to be committed and intentional,” he said.

Nwachukwu described the party’s desire to return to power as a “hunger for power,” saying its members were determined to reconnect with Abia residents.

The PDP governorship candidate, Dr Kelechi Anosike, said his campaign would focus on ideas, welfare and service rather than insults or political attacks.

Anosike said the inauguration was the beginning of a movement aimed at reclaiming what he described as the soul and future of Abia State.

“This is not just the inauguration of the campaign council. This is more like commencing a movement. A movement that believes People First, Abia Always,” he said.

He promised to focus on specific solutions to the challenges facing residents, including food insecurity and unemployment.

“We’re not giving them general campaign promises or rhetoric. We are going into specifics,” Anosike said, promising to establish at least three industries within his first year in office if elected.

The candidate also dismissed criticism over the PDP’s 24-year administration of the state, saying those responsible for the party’s record were no longer members of the PDP.

“This is a new PDP. The same party, new mindset, new focus, new direction,” he said.

Anosike further promised that the campaign would be issue-based, describing it as a “referendum of ideas.”

The campaign council management team was inaugurated by its Secretary, Ukpai Ukairo, at the campaign office of the PDP candidate on Aba Road, Umuahia.

The state PDP chairman and deputy governorship candidate, Elder Amah, alongside other party leaders and members of the campaign council, attended the ceremony and received the party’s flags.