The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has charged the 24 candidates for the state assembly and 184 ward chairmen to tour the entire state in their campaigns.
The charge to liberate the state in 2023 was given at Umukabia Okpuala in Umuahia North Local Government on Sunday, according to a statement.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for the party to strengthen its structures in all 184 wards of Abia.
According to the APC governorship candidate in the state, Ikechi Emenike, the party had little to do with campaigns because the performance of the ruling People’s Democratic Party had done 40 per cent of the work.
He, however, charged members of the party to ensure they performed the remaining tasks to promote the APC to citizens as a better alternative.
“We are determined to win this election. Our objective is to win this state,” he told the party faithful, adding that “change doesn’t come easy; it comes with hard work.”
On her part, the deputy governorship candidate of the party, Gloria Akara, charged the party faithful to ensure the APC took control of the state in 2023.
The Chairman of Abia APC, Dr Kingsley Ononogbu, in similar spirits, assured members that the party was ready for the forthcoming electioneering, saying, “We are good to go; God is in control.”
The call for a robust campaign was backed by two APC senatorial candidates, Emeka Atuma and Blessing Nwagba, who were also present at the meeting.
According to Atuma, the APC should boldly challenge and dethrone the PDP, rendering them the opposition in 2023.
“Nobody should be afraid. Emenike will be governor, and we will recover the government house and relocate it from the rented location (where it has remained since the creation of Abia 31 years ago),” he said.