I Predicted ‘Peter Obi Effect, Implication’ To PDP Ahead Of 2023 Polls – Ikpeazu

Okezie Ikpeazu, the governor of Abia State, recalls foreseeing “The Peter Obi effect” and its implications for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before to the recently ended general elections.

Recall that Obi joined the Labour Party just prior to the PDP presidential primaries, which Atiku Abubakar won.

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“That Peter Obi effect, I predicted it and told my party. I even volunteered that reasonable politicians should not ignore what Peter Obi was doing,” he said.

The governor said he never personally campaigned against the former Anambra State governor as all he wanted was a president from the southern region of the country.

On Peter Obi’s effect after the election, Ikpeazu said, “What would happen going forward will be determined by how Peter Obi manages the groundswell of support that he had gathered. How is he going to funnel this towards an agenda that can eventually materialise in his dream?”

The governor of Abia was one of the five aggrieved PDP governors, collectively referred to as the G5, who opposed the party’s nominee for president, Atiku Abubakar. Ikpeazu claimed he has no regrets about joining the gang.

Ikpeazu said, “I think that (being part of G5) is one of the most brilliant decisions I have taken as a politician.”

Ahiwe, the incumbent’s favoured candidate, was defeated in the race for governor of Abia, while Ikpeazu himself was defeated in his effort to represent the Abia North Senatorial District in the National Assembly by Enyinnaya Abaribe of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

He claimed to be cool with that, though, if losing those elections meant giving up his steadfast support for returning the presidency to the South.