TROUBLE: FACTIONAL ABIA IPAC DISOWNS EHIEMERE

The group which spoke through its Chairman, Chief Nnanna Ukaegbu said his faction of IPAC remains the authentic faction, having in its membership over 60 chairmen of political parties in Abia state.

Chief Ukaegbu who spoke while addressing newsmen at the Number 2 Macauley street secretariat of the body in Umuahia, said "We will not join issues with people who parade themselves as authentic when there is no reality behind the power they assume. Here you are is our secretariat in the state, handed over to us by the previous administration of IPAC, that being it, who will you then believe is authentic, we or those who hold their meetings in hotels and chalets?"

Also speaking, he also congratulated the governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu for his victory at the polls and said that despite the grandstanding by Reverend Ehiemere, his group has a direct contact with the governor and has made known their best of wishes to him and called for an end to legal tuasles to enable the governor concentrate on the business of governance.

Chief Ukaegbu also took time to berate an ally of Reverend Ehiemere, Chief Chidi Nwosu who doubles as the Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in the state for his anti-organizational activities, saying that he was suspended by the resolution of the council as its Deputy Chairman and remains so, hence the need for his lack of standing in IPAC.

On the issue of the non performance of the governor, Chief Ukaegbu said that allegations of those are relative, as there has never been good governance in Abia for over 35 years. However, he said "in my area - Ehere - in Aba where the roads used to be very bad, the governor has built all roads leading to that area, so if he has done this for us in that area, he has in my opinion performed."

He furthermore called on all Abians to be of good behavior and conduct to ensure that the state maintains its steady progress on the path of development.