Umuahia: Obidients in Abia State under the aegis of Obidients Across Party Alliance (OAPA), have dumped the state governorship candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Alex Otti, to support the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prof Uche Ikonne for the state’s Governorship election, come 2023.

They equally reiterated their support for His Excellency, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for the Abia South Senatorial District election.

In a statement issued on Tuesday signed by the group’s Coordinator, Chief Ndubueze Marcus Obiakwata stated their decision was based on the need to support the electoral victory of candidates possessing competence, credibility and capacity like the Labour Party, LP Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, to turn around the fortunes of the state, regardless of party affiliation.

The statement reads:

“Obidients Across Party Alliance (OAPA), a support group comprising Obidients from various political parties hereby reiterate our endorsement of the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi for President based on his towering profile of competence, credibility and capacity.

In Abia State, we have endorse candidateslHis Excellency Dr Okezie Ikpeazu for the Abia South Senatorial District election and Prof Uche Ikonne for the Governorship of Abia State, come 2023. OAPA, after series of meetings and consultations settled for the choice of Prof Ikonne of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the best candidate for the Abia Governorship election based on his enviable and unblemished track record of public service.

Obidients Movement is much bigger than the Labour Party, LP, the platform under which Mr Peter Obi, our principal has chosen to power his bid to salvage Nigeria. Our membership include political stalwarts from the PDP, APGA, APC, YPP, ADC, NNPP, etc. However, we are all united in our belief that Peter Obi has been sent by God, at a critical time like this, to take our beloved country to the next level.

Notwithstanding having membership cutting across various political parties, we have dumped our parties presidential candidates such as Abubakar Atiku, Bola Tinubu, Rabiu Kwankwaso, etc in our patriotic quest to bequeath our beloved country – Nigeria with a leadership all Nigerians shall be proud of. The Obi-Datti ticket of the Labour Party, LP is the only one that possesses that quality. Obi, the incoming Nigerian President, by the grace of God, is the face of the Obidient movement and his overwhelming followership transcends all political parties, religious groups, ethnic groups and regions, is based on the competence, credibility and capacity he painstakingly built up over the years.

Therefore, nobody should hide under the cover of Obi’s shadow to tiptoe into power, without having the people interrogate his past. We are convinced that Governor Ikpeazu has raised the bar on governance in Abia State with his numerous achievements which his detractors try to gloss over. For instance, Prof Bart Nnaji’s Geometric Power Plant could not have finally been actualized without his support and political will despite all odds. That singular project has also been a catalyst for the Made in Aba Project, which he has been very passionate about. In terms of infrastructure, Ikpeazu gave Abia State her first flyover – the Osisioma Flyover.

Instead of foraging into “uncharted waters” with a candidate with a shaky resume, all in the name of “Obidient bandwagon effect”, it’s better for Ndị Abia to vote in a level headed administrator as Governor. From his antecedents, Ikonne has kept a clean sheet after years of service as an optometrist and an administrator. His records of service, both at Parklane Teaching Hospital, ESUTH, Enugu and Abia State Polytechnic, Aba speaks to that fact. Go and verify! Ndị Abia deserve the best as God’s Own State and we are convinced that Prof Uche Ikonne – Uche Ndi Abia ticks all the boxes to take governance in Abia State to the next level.

Most importantly, Ikonne shall continue from where Ikpeazu stopped in the transformation of Abia State into the “Japan of Africa”. Strategic projects like the Enyimba Economic City whose completion has reached an advanced stage shall benefit from the Ikpeazu – Ikonne continuity.

Ndigbo anya saa unu, while supporting Obi for president under the platform of the Labour Party, LP, we must ensure that we likewise support other candidates based on their individual merit and not any political party bandwagon effect.

Signed: Chief Ndubueze Marcus Obiakwata

Coordinator, Obidients Across Party Alliance (OAPA)