Ahead of the 2019 General Elections, the political atmosphere in Abia State has been charged with the recent political declarations of some politicians in the state who are vying for various political offices.
While some politicians have declared their intentions to run for governorship positions, others are either contesting or re-contesting for Senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly positions.
For governorship position, the defeated All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate in the 2015 general elections, Chief Alex Otti and the former speaker of the State House Of Assembly, Chief Martins Azubuike who is contesting under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) are the two contenders who have shown interest in the gubernatorial race.
However,Governor Okezie Ikpeazu who is expected to declare his intentions to seek for reelection from his party the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) had at different fora made public of his numerous achievements in the state despite legal tussles he faced for the three years from those who challenged his emergence.
Not worried by claims from the opposition of perceived non performance, the PDP in the state had recently passed a vote of confidence on over his performance within the period, the State government on its part waved such claims aside accusing the opposition’s view as coming from strangers to the state.
Political observers in the state believe that Governor Ikpeazu remains a man to beat in the 2019 race as he has performanced creditably in areas of development of the State especially road construction in various parts of the state,maintainance of security,health care sector, provision of qualitative education, marketing of made in Aba products as well as Small and Medium Scale Enterprises among other things.
Available evidence on Governor Ikpeazu’s achievements show that the governor on assumption of office made public his administration’s policy thrust which is aimed at boosting the economic base of the state.
As a measure to enhance the economic base of the State, Governor Ikpeazu channeled his interest in reclaiming the viability of the economic hub centre of the State by massively tackling the infrastructural challenges that has affected the economic fortunes of the Enyimba city,Aba.
Although political parties are yet to elect their candidates for primaries to challenge the incumbent senator Theodore Orji who at the present has not been challenged by any of his PDP members, Chief Chris Ajaegbu for APGA, Nkechi Nwogu for APC have indicated their interest for the seat.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Police,Anthony Ogbizi has advised politicians to desist from the use of thugs to cause crises during the electioneering season as the Police will not spare any one caught in the act.
