The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State says it will not give automatic ticket to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to contest the 2019 general elections.

Rising from a crucial meeting at the party secretariat in Umuahia on Thursday, the State Working Committee (SWC) said the same measure would apply to all aspirants seeking to run on the party’s platform in 2019 as every contestable position would be thrown open.

"The SWC do hereby declare that all offices for 2019 general elections are open and contestable in line with the Abia Charter of Equity and PDP zoning formula,” Chief Johnson Onuigbo, PDP state chairman said, promising that “there shall be level playing ground for all aspirants, irrespective of position.”

He said the SWC would not tolerate any imposition of candidates or any acts of impunity.

But the SWC promised to retain the existing zoning formula in line with the Abia Charter of Equity and the PDP zoning arrangement.

He said the party was supreme and urged all its faithful to remain loyal, steadfast and continue to have confidence in its leadership.

The SWC used the meeting to pass “a vote of implicit confidence on Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu based on his excellent performances so far,” and the state chairman, Onuigbio “for his transparency and effective leadership.”