It has now emerged that across Abia State, over fourteen (14) PDP aspirants either to the House of Representatives and House of Assembly withdrew from the primary election conducted Sunday, May 22, 2022 citing cases of manipulation of 3-man delegates list, lack of transparency and non adherence to due process.

From Isiala Ngwa South/North Federal Constituency, Hon Darlington Nwokocha described the exercise as spurious and undemocratic

Nwokocha, member of the House of Representatives who is seeking to return to the House stated in his withdrawal from the race that "...no congress took place in any of the 184 political wards in Abia State on the said May 6, 2022 and that obviously confirms the concocted list being circulated a total illegality best trashed into waste bin"

From Ikwuano LGA, two aspirants, namely Comrade Cokey Nwachukwu and Dr David Onyenucheya boycotted the primary election for Ikwuano State Constituency seat for the Abia State House of Assembly.

Comrade Nwachukwu in a statement conveying his withdrawal from the primary election stated: "Unfortunately, the events leading up to the  primaries of the Ikwuano State Constituency of our party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have been mired by misinformation, lack of transparency, underhandedness and concerted effort to ensure that most of the contestants are denied the chance to at least contest in a level playing field.

"These events, including but not limited to the denial of statutory delegates the right to vote, releasing the 3man adhoc list at the last minute, all show that fairplay and respecting the tenets of democracy were never the plan"

Dailyledger.com.ng reports that on May 18, 2022,  governorship aspirants led by Sen Enyi Abaribe had stormed the Wadata House National Secretariat of the PDP to protest   that the 3-man ad-hoc delegate election is yet to hold in Abia, lending credence to an earlier statement  by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC which had written the Abia PDP that it was not aware that its earlier scheduled date of May 6, 2022 for the primary election was shifted

However, the Abia PDP insisted  that the primary was held and while the aspirants and party stakeholders waited in suspense,  for resolution, a strange 3-Man delegate list was released by the National Working Committee allegedly concocted by Abia PDP

It was at this point some of the aspirants decided to withdraw from the election as they read the handwriting on the wall that the primary election outcome is already predetermined

Notable among the avalanche of aspirants who withdrew include:

Hon. Solomon Adaelu, the member representing Ugwunagbo/Osisioma/Obingwa Federal Constituency

Hon. Nkem Abonta, member representing Ukwa East/West Federal Constituency

Barr. Chijioke Chuku, aspirant to Bende Federal Constituency

Chief Fred Eke Idika, aspirant to Arochuk/Ohafia Federal Constituency Seat.

Hon. Ibe Nwoke,  aspirant to Ugwunagbo/Osisioma/Obingwa Federal Constituency Seat.

Hon. Darlington Nwokocha, aspirant to Isiala Ngwa North/South Federal Cobstituency

Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, aspirant for  Isiala Ngwa North state Constituency a

Chief Ebere Nwankwo, aspirant for  Umunneochi State Constituency seat

Dr. David Onyenucheya, aspirant for Ikwuano  state constituency seat

Hon. Hanson Amaechi. aspirant to Obingwa West House assembly seat.

Hon. Enyinnaya Apollo, aspirant to Obingwa West House of Assembly seat.

Ubani Dannie, aspirant to Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency Seat.

Hon. Okechukwu Iboko, Bende North State Constituency aspirant

Comrade Cokey Nwachukwu, Ikwuano state constituency aspirant.