The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State has acknowledged learning from the mistakes that led to its defeat in the 2023 general elections.
During a press briefing at the new PDP secretariat in Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, following a stakeholders meeting attended by 850 delegates from the state’s 17 council areas, Elder Amah Abraham, Vice Chairman and Acting State Publicity Secretary of the party, outlined the PDP’s review process and the lessons learned.
Abraham emphasized that the PDP has thoroughly analyzed the 2023 elections to identify its errors. He expressed confidence that with these insights, the party would emerge stronger and more competitive by 2027.
He highlighted that the PDP’s resilience and the anticipated influx of significant political figures into the party would reinforce its position.
Detailing the reasons behind the PDP’s 2023 election failure, Abraham pointed out that the party’s excessive focus on its welfarist agenda led to overextension, adversely impacting worker welfare.
The party failed to hold certain appointees accountable for administrative abuses, causing significant issues within various parastatals.
Abraham admitted, “We assessed the last general elections and identified our shortcomings. We accepted responsibility and apologized.
Our welfarist government led us to pay up to seven, nine, and twelve thousand youths monthly for empowerment, but we mismanaged pensions, leaving a backlog of 45 months of unpaid pension arrears.”
He elaborated that former Governor Ikpeazu, during his 96-month tenure, paid pensions for only 51 months, leaving 45 months unpaid.
This issue was later complicated by the current administration’s claims of resolving the arrears, which they allegedly did not.
Abraham continued, “We realized that if we had reduced the number of youths paid as Special Assistants, we could have managed the pension arrears better.
Some pensioners were also paid as Special Assistants instead of receiving their rightful pensions.”
He clarified that while the PDP maintained timely salary payments for core ministries, issues persisted with parastatals due to a lack of accountability.
Some heads of parastatals hired additional staff without proper authorization, inflating wage bills and contributing to financial mismanagement.
“We’ve identified these pitfalls and are committed to rectifying them. Admitting our mistakes is crucial for avoiding them in the future.
We must ensure that our welfarist policies do not jeopardize worker welfare,” Abraham stated.
Despite defections from some members who benefited from the PDP, Abraham assured that the party remains strong, with most caucus members still loyal.
He indicated that several prominent political figures have shown interest in joining the PDP, and a significant celebration is planned for their formal reception.
Abraham asserted, “The PDP remains the party to beat in the 2027 election. We will soon release a comprehensive statement analyzing the current administration in Abia State, which will highlight our optimism.
Many people perceive the Labour Party as insignificant, as evidenced by defectors preferring the APC over the LP.”
Abraham’s briefing reflected the PDP’s introspection and determination to rectify past mistakes, positioning itself for a stronger performance in future elections.
