I warned PDP to be wary of ‘Peter Obi effect’ ahead of 2023 polls – Gov. Ikpeazu

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has recalled predicting the “The Peter Obi effect” and its implication to his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the just concluded general elections.

It would be recalled that Obi defected to the Labour Party shortly before the PDP presidential primary which was won by Atiku Abubakar.

“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 Abia governor was one of the five PDP governor known as the G5 who did not support the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar. Ikpeazu said he doesn’t regret being part of the group.

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

The incumbent’s preferred candidate, Ahiwe, lost the Abia governorship election, while Ikpeazu himself also lost his bid to represent Abia North Senatorial District in the National Assembly to the incumbent Senator, Enyinnaya Abaribe of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

However, he said if losing those elections are the sacrifice for his principled position for presidency to return to the South, he was okay with it.