2019 Guber Poll: Abia State Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Revd Augustine Ehiemere, Wednesday said the outcome of the March 9 governorship election in the state was an affirmation of the love and support of the people of the state for the state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.

Ehimiere, whose party’s candidate, Alex Otti, came third in the election, stated this when he led a delegation of the members of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to the Government House in Umuahia to congratulate Ikpeazu on his re-election.

Ehiemere, who is also the Chairman of IPAC in the state, said: “By this election, the Abia masses have affirmed their love and support for you and your administration and now expect greater and more appreciable developmental footprints in the next four years of your reign.”

According to him, “While IPAC is united with Abians in this dream of a greater Abia, we are not unmindful of the enormity of the task before you but we are encouraged by your known zeal to change the developmental narratives of Abia State for the better.”

Assuring the governor of the support of IPAC members to his administration, he called on the governor to run an all-inclusive government that would accelerate the development of the state.

“As we rejoice with you in this wholesome victory, let us remind Your Excellency that your election is a call to rise above your political party and be a father to all Abians irrespective of political leanings.

“In this regard, we went you to reach out to all political divides, professionals and persons with good ideas and run an open and all-inclusive government unconstrained by political affiliations within the next four years.

“On our part, IPAC will galvanise all political parties and opinions behind your administration to create the needed environment for the development of Abia State. We therefore call on political parties within the state to let go of all grievances and join hands with the governor in making Abia the development destination of Nigeria within the next four years.”

Responding, Ikpeazu expressed appreciation to Abians for his re-election and thanked members of IPAC for the congratulatory message and promised to continue to present a platform that can accommodate all Abians regardless of political or religious affiliations.

The governor, who reiterated his administration’s focus on job creation, assured that the Enyimba Economic City project; Ubani Ibeku Agro-industrial City; Ohafia Urban development programme; and rapid infrastructure development efforts of his administration would experience greater focus.

“After election the next thing is governance and I am fully focused on that now. We will run an all-inclusive government where every Abian, at home or in the diaspora, can come and make contributions to the growth and development of our state,” Ikpeazu said.