What started as rumour few weeks back is gradually becoming a reality. Not many people had at first believed reports that there was a grand plot by a cabal in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Engr. Chinedu Orji, the powerful son of the State Governor, Chief TA Orji, to stop almost all the Abia State lawmakers who are seeking re-election. In fact, when the issue came up few weeks back, the Abia State Government denied the reports. However, recent events have confirmed that the cabal is bent on stopping everybody it is not comfortable with.

First, it was rumoured that the controversial Chinedu, a.k.a Ikuku, would seek election to represent Umuahia Central State Constituency, but this was vehemently denied. Now, it is no longer a secret that he is running; as a matter of fact, he seems to be the only one in the race in that State Constituency as the incumbent legislator, Chief (Mrs.) Grace Nkem Uche, has made it clear that she cannot run against the Governor’s son. She was promised that she would replace Chief Micah Onyebuchi (ASUBEB), the same position that was promised Dr. Monica Philips to dissuade her from running for the House of Representative seat for Bende Federal Constituency. The only challenger was disqualified from the race by the party screening committee, a decision he has vowed to challenge in court.

However, facts have emerged that the members of the screening committee from Abuja screened the Governor’s son in his private home, against the norm, and their political enemies have vowed to fight for his disqualification from Abuja, alleging that the sceeners were compromised.

It has been confirmed that all lawmakers from Abia Central Senatorial Zone, which is also the zone of the Governor’s son, are not coming back to the House of Assembly. The simple reason is to make sure that no ranking member of the House shall return as not to stop Chinedu’s ambition to become the next Speaker of the State Assembly.

It was learnt that the cabal had zoned the governorship to Abia South Senatorial Zone, the Deputy Governor’s position to Abia North Senatorial Zone and the Speaker of the State Assembly to the Central zone. What this means is that the likes of Hon. Ikechukwu Nwabeke (Osisioma North); Hon. Emeka Alozie (Osisioma South); Hon Martins Azubuike (Isiala Ngwa North); Hon. Emeka Ejiogu (Umuahia North); Hon. Chidi Nwosu (Umuahia South); Hon. Chidiebere Nwoke (Umuahia East); Hon. (Mrs) Grace Nkem Uche (Umuahia Central) and Hon. Chukwuemeka Osoagbaka may all kiss the State House of Assembly good bye.

Also affected are all the House members from Abia North Senatorial Zone, who were said to have been flushed out to give way to the immediate past Chief of Staff, Chief Cosmos Ndukwe, to emerge as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly. They are Hon. Mba Ukaha (Ohafia South), Hon. Prince Ezekesiri (Umunneochi), Hon. Chukwudi Ogele (Isuikwuato), and Hon. Agwu U Agwu. The incumbent Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu, has been promised the Deputy Governor slot but the cabal has placed a hurdle by saying that the old PDP insists on producing the Deputy Governor. The other House member, Hon. P. C. Onyegbu, who bought the form for the House of Representatives seat, is not even sure of getting the party ticket, while Hon. Ndukwe Ojukwu (Bende North) has stepped down for Chief Cosmos Ndukwe after he was promised the position of commissioner after May 29, 2015.

Other House members to be flushed out from Abia South Senatorial Zone are Hon. (Mrs.) Kate Maduako, whose sin is her husband’s closeness to Senator Nkechi Nwogu. Hon. Prince Chilaka Onuoha received the wrath of the cabal because he is seen to be loyal to Rt. Hon. Acho Nwakanma, the ex-Deputy Governor and one of the gubernatorial aspirants. Rt. Hon. Alwell Asiforo Okere has an uphill task as he is not in the good books of Hon. Emeka Stanley, the General Manager of ASOPADEC, who was alleged to have “written” the names of the discredited November 1 delegates election. Even Hon. Tony Mezie Nwaubani is also having problems returning to the House as the cabal has perfected plans to edge him out in the name of zoning. The only House members sure of their seats are Hon. (Mrs.) Blessing Nwagba (Aba North), and Hon. (Mrs.) Nkemdirim Nwogu Iheasimuo.

However, the legislators met Friday night and have decided to come together to fight for their constitutional rights even as they have been starved of funds. The option before the House members as discussed during the meeting are to defect en masse with their supporters to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) or impeach Gov. TA Orji. Already, they are compiling the sins of the Governor, whom, they allege, they have been giving their full support. They said when the Governor met with them few months back at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Umuahia, he assured them that one-term lawmakers shall return, two-term lawmakers should consult with their constituents first, while he did not assure third-term legislators of their return. They are saying that this operation flush out Abia lawmakers was not part of their agreement with the Governor.

Meanwhile, the aggrieved lawmakers have decided to write a joint petition to the Economic and Financial Ctrimes Commission (EFCC) to look into the Abia State Local Government Accounts from 2007 to 2014. The weeks ahead promise a lot of drama in ‘God’s Own State’.

•Photo shows TA Orji’s powerful son, Chinedu Orji.

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