The Abia State Government and the Abia chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council have condemned the People’s Democratic Party for creating a “Shadow Government” in the state, labeling it as self-serving and a mockery of governance.
In a statement, the Abia PDP announced the establishment of the Abia State Shadow Government, with appointments made by the party’s State Chairman, Abraham Amah.
The party claimed that the move was designed to hold the state government accountable by scrutinizing its actions, policies, and decisions while providing alternative perspectives.
However, the Abia State Government quickly rejected this move. In a response issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, the government criticized the PDP for failing to accept its defeat in the last election.
The government pointed out that the PDP’s appointment of shadow officials, such as commissioners, advisers, and other key government roles, was a misguided attempt to reclaim political power.
The statement mocked the PDP for not appointing a shadow governor or deputy governor, questioning when they would establish shadow positions for local government mayors and their deputies.
The government emphasized that the real and visible Abia had moved on, leaving the PDP behind.
“The desperation of agents of the decimated Abia PDP was made manifest few days ago when the visible Abia PDP Chairman who was ‘elected’ to serve the party with other ‘elected’ State party Exco, appointed illusionary shadow Commissioners, Special Adviser, Senior Special Assistants, Director Generals, CSO, CPS, Chief Judge, Speaker and Deputy Speaker, SSG, Chief of Staff and Accountant-General under the yet to be created PDP State.
“What is strange is that few days later, the Abia PDP State Chairman is yet to appoint shadow Governor and Deputy Governor who will be receiving shadow allocation and generating shadow IGR.
“It is unbelievable that these people are yet to wake-up from the dream of losing election. After the Supreme Court judgement that affirmed Dr. Alex Otti as the duly elected Governor of Abia State”, they are still chasing shadows.
“Abians can now see their impunity and desperation to remain in power even after rejecting and retiring them at the polls. When are they appointing shadow Local Government Mayors and their Deputies? Ukoha queried.
Mockingly, the statement added, “All the new appointees will be inaugurated with shadow feeding bottles. They can remain in the shadow Abia. The real and visible Abia has left them behind and moved on.
“They become shadows of their old self without access to public treasury. The shadow are free to loot and plunder the shadow treasury. No one is dragging it with them.”
Additionally, the Abia chapter of IPAC joined in the criticism, with its chairman, Hon. Uluocha Chimex, describing the creation of the shadow cabinet as a futile attempt by a failed political party. Chimex, who also serves as the state chairman of the Young Progressive Party, expressed disappointment at the PDP’s actions. He argued that the party’s 20-year rule in Abia had been marked by a lack of meaningful infrastructure development, despite having significant resources at its disposal. Chimex also questioned the credibility of those appointed to the Shadow Government, noting that many had been vocal critics of Governor Alex Otti’s administration, particularly on social media.
“This move is not only a waste of time but also a blatant attempt to deceive the good people of Abia.
“The PDP’s over 20-year reign in our state was marked by a glaring lack of meaningful infrastructure development, despite the vast resources at their disposal”, and questioned the integrity of those appointed into the Shadow Government.
