As the struggle for power gathers momentum ahead of the 2023 elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State has been warned to stick to the zoning arrangement started in 1999 or risk losing the state to the opposition.

Specifically, it has been urged to ensure that power returns to Abia North Senatorial District in 2023 while the current state Chairman of the party, Chief Johnson Onuigbo is allowed to complete his eight years in office.

In a statement after a joint meeting in Umuahia, the state capital, yesterday, Abia North Integrity Group and Ikwuano/Umuahia Political Forum raised the alarm that some politicians of Ukwa Ngwa block have perfected plans to abort the Abia Charter of Equity.

According to the statement endorsed by Chief Kalu Kalu Idika-Agwu for Abia North Integrity Group and Hillary Ndubuisi Ojukwu for Ikwuano/Umuahia Political Forum, the groups insisted that any attempt to subvert the charter of equity will spell doom for PDP in the state.

The groups disclosed that some mercenaries working for some Ukwa Ngwa politicians are working to truncate the re-election of Chief Johnson Onuigbo as Abia State Chairman of PDP as a prelude towards retaining power beyond 2023.

They revealed that through some of the politicians, the Ukwa Ngwa elements are pushing for the repudiation of the zoning formula which had been the strength of PDP in Abia.

They recalled that PDP lost power at the centre in 2015 because some people had similarly scorned the zoning principle, noting that Abia might also be on the verge of suffering a similar fate unless “the promoters of the hegemonic and selfish campaign are called to order”.

They insisted that the only way PDP will retain Abia in 2023 was for the strict adherence to the zoning arrangement whereby Abia North Senatorial District will produce the governor while Chief Onuigbo from Ikwuano/Umuahia retains his post as state chairman.

“For the sake of unity and social cohesion of our state; for the sake of generations unborn who deserve a state founded and guided by the principle of equity and fairness, we urge the promoters of this divide and rule syndrome to desist from their evil plot in order not to set the state on fire,” they warned. ( New Telegraph)