The governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has stated that he supports politics that equip people with the means to support themselves. If elected to serve as Abia South's senator in 2023, he has additionally pledged to do so effectively.
In response, he pledged to refute the assertion made by some representatives that the National Assembly is powerless. If elected, he made this claim.
At the flag-raising ceremony for his senatorial campaign in the Ukwa East and Ukwa West council areas, Ikpeazu made this pledge. He said that the Ukwa people had benefited from his administration's assistance in numerous ways, including with political appointments, the restoration of electricity, and increased personal authority.
The governor claimed that since coming into office in 2015, he has demonstrated how the public sector can serve its citizens. Additionally, he pledged to extend more democratic dividends from the Senate to Abia South.
Ikpeazu urged the populace to support the PDP's candidates for the National Assembly, governorship, and state Assembly since the group picked knowledgeable individuals who could serve the electorate's needs.
He said, “I have made millionaires in Ukwa land who have been empowering the masses. I’m the king of empowerment because I have produced those who can empower the people in Ukwa land. I have a unique style of politics. I don’t believe in people following me with nothing to show for it. Some politicians in Abia state have had the people following them since 1999 with nothing to show for it.
“Some people have been telling us there is nothing in the Senate. But I’m pleading with Ukwa people to send me to the Senate. I will deliver the dividends. Today, they have started again; some are giving us non-functional solar lights, salt and fertilizer. But I have reminded them that they said there is nothing in the Senate. Where are they bringing all these things from?
“Vote for PDP candidates and leave the rest for us. We will not disappoint you. Politics is like a chain; when you link somebody, he connects the other. If you elect the Member of the House of Assembly without the governor, we would have cut the chain. The chain would have cut when you elect the Assembly member and the governor without the Member of the House of Representatives. When you elect the Member, House of Representatives in the green chamber without the Senator, the chain has cut. What we are saying is chain draw, vote for PDP,5/5.
“PDP is highly organized. We deliberately produced quality candidates in Ukwa land. We know that the Ukwa people are members of the PDP. I have shown love to the Ukwa people in many ways. I made the people feel the impact of the oil produced from their land. I will continue to tell the people the truth.”
Chief Chris Nkwonta, the party’s candidate for the Ukwa East/Ukwa West federal constituency, also spoke. He got a standing ovation at the rally and promised to be a good representative if he or she was elected.
Earlier, the PDP Chairmen in Ukwa West and Ukwa East, Chief Kingsley Enyite and Chief Okechi Nwaohu said that Ikpeazu has done an excellent job with development and empowerment in Ukwa land, and they promised that their people would show their appreciation by giving the governor a lot of votes.
Chief Asiforo Okere, the State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Sam Nwogu, the Commissioner for the Environment, Chief Emeka Stanley, and Chief Goddy Adiele, who represents the Ukwa West constituency, all promised to support the governor’s candidate. They also said that Ukwa land is a PDP stronghold because the party has always won elections.
“The PDP has no problem in Ukwa land. It was Chief Chris Nkwonta who use to give us problems. Now, he has returned to the PDP, we no longer have problem in Ukwa land,” Okere said.