By Chijindu Emeruwa, Abia.

Major Stakeholders of Abia origin in the Southeast zone, under the auspices of Nzuko Abia Elders, on Saturday, advocated for a consensus option as parties’ leadership prepares for primaries and main general elections in 2023.

The Abia elders drew from the religious, traditional, political, public, and private business world, and indigenous groups at home and the diaspora, have applauded the governing All Progressive Congress chaired by Senator Abdullahi Adamu for the transparent conduct of its concluded direct primary election in the Abia state.

Rising from their enlarged meeting held at Confidence Hotels in Umuahia, the state capital on Saturday, the Abia elders congratulated the immediate past Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah (OON), on his emergence as the Abia standard-bearer of the All Progressive Congress for the upcoming general election in 2023, affirming the capacity, vast wealth of experience, expertise and competences to raise the bar in the socio-economic and Infrastructural growths and development of Abia state.

This was contained in a communique jointly signed by their leaders, Mazi Obinna Anyaso(JP), and Mazi Ogbonnaya Kalu, made available to journalists at the end of their expanded meeting in Umuahia.

The Nzuko Abia Elders frowned at the unpatriotic activities of some disgruntled political actors and cohorts to heat the state under the guise of a staged managed fake primaries which according to them, negated the democratic principles, and also regretted the total collapse of governance in Abia state necessitated by internal crisis devastating the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the state which has negative affects human and economic activities of Abia state.

According to him, “we’re disappointed and regrettable that the party entrusted with the mandate of the people has failed to focus on consolidating democratic dividends, rather, the PDP government has abandoned governance, and heated the state with their selfish aggrandizement.

“Without sounding partiality, or engaging in business, we, elders of Abia state drawn from the three senatorial districts of Abia, and drawn from different fields of life, reiterates our unshaken support to the former minister of state for mines and steel development, Dr. Uche Ogah on his popular aspiration to become next governor of Abia State come 2023, as he has proven beyond clear doubts, uncommon leadership both in the private and public sector.

“We have no doubts that his anticipating ascendency on the seat of Governor of Abia state come 2023 will usher in bountiful economic prosperity, that will enhance and deepen democracy in the state”.

The Southeast Elder’s group, however, directed lovers of democracy and eligible voters of Abia origin including residents of the state to rally Dr. Ogah in the upcoming main general election in 2023, advising them also to shun form of financial inducements, and vote for him and other credible candidates with conscience, as the Abia populaces have suffered much, which could be best attributed to enthrone of government without visions, direction, clear developmental template or plans and purpose.

The elders urged Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to ensure necessary democratic measures are put in place to ensure a peaceful and successful transition of power after the 2023 general election while calling relevant Nigeria security agencies to double up their efforts in securing lives and properties during and after electioneering activities.

The forum of Abia elders disclosed that they shall be embarking sensitization tour to the three Senatorial Districts of the state on the urgent importance to register and revalidate their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) to enable them to entrench the needed democratic leadership at all levels of the state to foster Infrastructural growths in every part of Abia state.

The Nzuko Abia Elders, therefore, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure adequate availability and provision of electoral logistics to ensure a hitch-free, credible, and acceptable election comes 2023 in Abia and other states of the Nigeria federation.