Sources at Government House, Umuahia, told Pointblanknews.com that Ikpeazu is disturbed at the growing popularity and acceptability of the Deputy Governorship’s ambition that he has resolved to remove him at all cost.
The Governor has already convened a meeting of senior members of his administration on how to get the State Assembly to remove Oko Chukwu. Ikpeazu has also promised a return ticket to all lawmakers who will sign the impeachment notice of the Deputy Governor.
According to the Source; “The Governor is highly disturbed over the growing popularity and acceptability of Oko Chukwu’s ambition. He has vowed never to hand over to the Deputy Governor, but he is worried that Ude Oko Chukwu is waxing stronger getting the support of stakeholders, even outside Abia State. Many stakeholders of the party in the 17 LGAs are in support of the Deputy Governor’s ambition.
“They have seen the Deputy Governor as the man with the best capacity to succeed Ikpeazu. Those close to the Governor said he accused the Deputy Governor of praying for his death when he was suffering from Covid 19, that he will never hand over to somebody who was praying for his death.
“The Governor is also saying that the Deputy Governor has spent a long time in government occupying different positions and must exit in 2023. The Governor is not resting on the plot to remove his Deputy. You can see the way he has been mobilizing different local government areas of the Abia North senatorial district to pay him courtesy visits. This is meant to reduce the Deputy Governor’s support base.”
However, the impeachment plot may fail as most PDP stakeholders are not happy with the Governor over his handling of his succession programme.
Those who are being tipped by Ikpeazu’s men to replace Oko Chukwu include former Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly, Hon. Cosmas Ndukwe; Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu; Hon. Uko Nkole and Hon. Okey Igwe.
Most of the lawmakers contacted by Pointblanknews.com vowed never to have anything to do with the impeachment move against the Deputy Governor as they would not want the state to be thrown into avoidable crisis since the tenure of the Ikpeazu administration is winding up.
A lawmaker from Abia Central zone who spoke anonymously said the Deputy Governor has not committed any offence to warrant his impeachment.
“The Deputy Governor has not committed any impeachable offence. Let them bring the N15 million they want to share, I will collect it and do the right thing. I heard the Governor’s men have started, but nobody has contacted me. Of course, they may not contact me because they already know my stand that Ude Oko Chukwu is the most loyal Deputy Governor I have ever seen. We can’t allow Abia to burn because the Governor wants to impose a retired man as his successor.
“The impeachment move is coming because he declared his intention to run for Governor. It is his constitutional right to contest for Governor. What Ikpeazu should do is to project his anointed candidate for the party primaries and help him win, not fighting an innocent Deputy Governor who is even being denied his entitlements.”
For now, the State House of Assembly has been under lock for over a month. The staff had resumed last week but were asked to return home and await further directives. It was gathered that not even the Speaker and the Governor are safe from impeachment as the members are being owed salaries and allowances while some have been blocked from getting a return ticket to the House in 2023.