Senate Minority Leader Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP – Abia South) has reportedly joined the 2023 Abia governorship race.
It was learned that Abaribe made his intention to run for the number seat known during a meeting with governor Okezie Ikpeazu, at the Abia Government House in Umuahia on Friday night.
According to The Nation, Abaribe visited the governor with some of his supporters and leaders in the state to disclose his intention to be his successor.
A source told the newspaper that Ikpeazu was surprised that Abaribe’s visit was to inform him of his gubernatorial ambition.
He said: “Governor Okezie Ikpeazu was thrown off balance when Senator Abaribe told him about his gubernatorial ambition because he had no idea why they wanted to seek audience with him.
“We learnt that Senator Abaribe just called him to tell him (Ikpeazu) that he wanted to see him.
“The governor thought it was the usual Christmas homage. The twist is that we learnt that some of the stakeholders that came with Abaribe didn’t know his mission.
“They too were surprised when Abaribe made his intention known to the governor.”
Confirming the news, media aide to the senator, Uche Awom, said the former Abia deputy governor has joined the governorship race on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a chat with the Nation, Awom said Abaribe made his intention to contest the gubernatorial race known in a meeting with Governor Ikpezu.
He described the reception by the governor as “warm and convivial.”
