The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Abia State, on Sunday concluded its State Congress, with the election of former Vice chairman cum acting Publicity Secretary, Abraham Amah as the new state party chairman.
Earlier on Friday, one of the notable contenders, Chief James Okpara had withdrawn from the race, citing compromise on the part of the former State Working Caretaker Committee members of the party.
Amah was declared winner in the election, having polled a total of 1,264 votes to defeat his closest rival, Olugu Kalu, who polled 395.
The Congress which was held at the Sacramento event centre, Umuahia, had delegates from across the 17 Local Government Areas of the State.
The Returning officer and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Sen Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who spoke to the media shortly after declaring the winners of the Congress, said the process was germane to the party at the national and state levels.
He acknowledged and commended the peaceful disposition of the party delegates which he said, made for a seamless exercise.
He congratulated the winners of the congress and expressed optimism that the party will have a new look for the purpose of reclaiming Abia State in 2027.
Speaking earlier, the Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District, Sen Austin Akobundu, commended the
delegates for comporting themselves in a peaceful manner, adding that the Congress was part of the ideals of the party, lauding the process which he
said was transparent.
He said as a former National Organizing Secretary of the party, he stood for transparency, affirming that the accreditation process was credible, as well as every other process.
The State’s former Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu charged the new executive of the party to pursue one mandate which is to bring back those that left the party.
Kalu, said that the future of the party starts from the emergence of the new leaders, adding that though people left because they were aggrieved, the new leaders of the party should pursue with all vigour, the new mandate of filling the PDP family.
The newly elected chairman, Amah, in his speech, described the successful congress as “a new dawn for Abia PDP”.
He expressed gratitude to the party stakeholders and delegates for finding him worthy to give their votes and for entrusting the party in his hands.
Amah said his emergence would pursue a robust engagement, the reconciliation of aggrieved members, re-echoing the ideas and vision of the founding fathers, as well as bringing back those that left the party, so as to make it stronger.
