Former Chairman of Abia State chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Emma Nwaka, broke down in tears at the Finbarr’s Road State Secretariat Thursday while handing over the affairs of the party to his successor, Chief Johnson Onuigbo.

Nwaka who took party faithful down memory lane on the performance of his executive during his six-year tenure, became emotional when he remebered the death of about eight members of Abia PDP who lost their lives while on assignment to Anambra State for the party. The deceased met their death in a road accident while returning to Enugu from Anambra where they had gone to conduct PDP ward congresses in August 2013 preparatory to the November 2013 governorship election in the state.

Nwaka who described the death as a period of his low moment during his tenure, pointed out that the dead were mostly his aides and state party staff who worked closely with him for a long period, adding that their deaths still give him “nightmares”.

He enjoined the new executive to ensure the upkeep of the families of the deceased, adding that he was leaving N4 million in the Endowment fund set up for the dependants of the deceased.

He listed other achievements of his executive to include acquisition of land for building a permanent secretariat for Abia PDP, winning two governorship elections and holding the party together.

He warned the executive against taking bribe to favour people but should work diligently, adding that genuine rewards would follow.

“I worked well with two governors and they listened to me,” Nwaka said, urging the new executive to ensure harmony in the party and work well with the leader of the party and governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.

Receiving the handover note, Onuigbo extolled Nwaka for being a peace builder and for taking Abia PDP to heigher heights and promised that his new executive would toe the path of their predecessor.

“Our executive will work like a family. When there is peace and tranquility in the EXCO, it will transcend the party,” Onuigbo said, assuring that the new PDP leadership would work to bring back those who have left the party.

Highlights of the ceremony include presentation of the handover note to the new chairman as well as the authentic results of the party's congresses to the local government chairmen of the party by Nwaka.

•Photo shows ex-Abia PDP Chairman, Senator Emma Nwaka.