Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has said he denied a report of him leaving Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stating that his concern is the South-East.
Ikpeazu said that although he had engaged in different discussions with other parties, his focus remained on the PDP and how the South East would be accommodated if the party becomes victorious in the 2023 elections.
He said the PDP and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, should decide on how they are going to include the South-East in the scheme of things within the party.
The governor noted that the PDP has not clarified what positions are available for the South-East should the party win the 2023 election.
“I said it on Thursday in Umuahia and I insist that I am not leaving the PDP. My concern is the South-East post-elections. We deserve better treatment,” he noted.
He added, “Forget all talks of leaving the PDP. I am not leaving the PDP and I don’t think other governors are planning to do so.
“But the point is that the South-East was denied tickets of the presidency in both the PDP and APC. That leaves us unsure of where we are going, what roles we will play in after the 2023 elections. That is my concern. That is what I am fighting for.
“Our votes are for the PDP. If we receive assurances of our position in 2023 from the PDP, where I belong in the first place.
“It is not about playing hard with the PDP. It is about knowing what we will be given after the elections. These are things we need to sort out early before we commit to anybody.
“It is not enough for us to vote for the party. It is about where we are going to be positioned after the election. You don’t run blind in politics.
“Yes, truly, we are not happy with the outcome of the primaries but that does not mean I am planning to leave the PDP. That does not mean my faith is shaken in the party. But it is about working things out properly. That is my personal concern.
“The South-East cannot continue to be treated as an outsider in the politics of the country. If we don’t have the presidency and the vice presidency, we are asking for something better, something good for the zone.
“We can’t just vote or deliver our state for the fun of it. We must be sure of why we are voting.”