The Abia State chapter of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PD), has suspended its campaigns for three days in honour of its governorship candidate, Professor Uche Ikonne, who died on Wednesday.
PDP Vice Chairman, Abia North and the Acting Publicity Secretary of the party, Elder Abraham Amah, announced this at a press conference Wednesday evening in Umuahia.
He said that party was in deep shock over the sudden demise of the party’s governorship flag bearer.
This is as the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Chief Ikechi Emenike; Minister of State for Science and Technology, Chief Henry Ikoh; and the Pioneer Director General of the National Directorate of Employment, NDE, Chief Chuku Wachuku, have expressed shock over the sudden death of the PDP governorship flag bearer.
PDP said Ikonne’s death was very painful, “coming at a time when he was recuperating from illness and had shown great signs and willingness to join us in the second leg of our ward-to-ward tour that is ongoing across the 184 Wards in the 17 Local Government Areas of Abia State. “
“As we mourn his passage, we commiserate with his immediate family, the Abia State governor, His Excellency Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, all members of our great Party, the PDP and the good people of Abia State on the death of this illustrious son of the State”, he added.
Elder Abraham said that Ikonne’s death had shattered the party, adding. that the State Working Committee would be holding emergency meeting later Wednesday night.
He called on PDP members to “remain calm, steadfast and await further directives from the leadership of the party.”
Abraham said that party leadership would be leading a delegation to commiserate with the bereaved family on Thursday.
Professor Ikonne was until his death an Optometris and had served both as Reactor of Abia State Polytechnic; and Vice Chancellor of the Abia State University Uturu. (Vanguard)
