The second term bid of Senator Mao Ohuabunwa representing Abia North zone, has suffered a major setback as youths from the zone under the auspices of Ohafia Youth Forum, have openly rejected him.
The youths who made their feeling known during a reception in honour of Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu at Abriba over the weekend, told the Governor they preferred Chief David Ogba Bourdex of the All Progressive Grand Alliance ( APGA) to Ohuabunwa whom they accused of stinginess.
The group had also shown their support for the Deputy Governor, Deputy Governor, Chief Ude Oko-Chukwu; and the member representing Arochukwu/ Ohafia Federal constituency, Mr. UKo Nkole.
But as soon as Ohuabunwa mounted the stage to make his remarks at the well attended event, the PDP supporters started booing him.
They insisted he should not seek return ticket , contending that the impact of his ” first tenure is yet to be filled” in the zone.
Addressing newsmen later, Leader of the group and Senior Special Assistance to Gov. Ikpeazu on grassroots Mobilization, Mr. Ifekwe Udo Emetu said their verdict on Ohuabunwa ” is irreversible”.
” Ohuabunwa should stop deceiving himself; the zone has rejected him”, he added.
According to him, “Ohuabunwa has failed to meet up with the peoples’ expectation”, thus, “he has to forget his ambition in 2019”.
Meanwhile, the action of the youth group was seen as a public embarrassment to PDP as some party chieftains were observed discussing the development in hushed tones.
One of them who pleaded not to be mentioned warned that if no quick action was taken by the party leadership and stakeholders from the zone PDP might lose Abia North in the 2019 election.
He said it was strange and a big embarrassment for the party supporters to openly campaign for an aspirant of another party in an event attended by the governor.
Recall that about two months ago, some PDP members in Ohafia led by the Commissioner for Justice, Ume Kalu, said Ohafia should be allowed to produce the Deputy Governor in 2019 .
The incumbent Deputy Governor, Oko Chukwu , from Nkporo clan, who was also present at the event at Ebem Ohafia, was also embarrassed by the action of the Attorney General who claimed Ohafia had been marginalised in the sharing of political office in the zone.
However, when contacted, Ohuabunwa dismissed the group and “political hirings blowing the trumpet of their pay master”, adding that they are too inconsequential to stop his second term bid.
The former Speaker ECOWAS Parliament said he had attracted some notable projects in the zone despite his protracted electoral court case, adding that the zone will witness more developments in the months ahead.
Despite denials , allegations and counter allegations PDP family doesn’t seem to be very united in Abia North , and there is fear that if no urgent steps were taken to amicably resolve the internal wrangling, it might cause the party its fortunes in 2019.
