The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) gubernatorial candidate for Abia State, Prof. Uchenna Eleazar, has died.
His death was announced by his son, Dr Uche Ikonne.
Mr. Ikonne died from a stroke at the National Hospital Abuja, at 4 a.m. on Wednesday.
His son said the deceased had received treatments in the United Kingdom for several months before recently returning to Nigeria, according to a statement signed by his son Chikezie Ikonne.
“Further details and arrangements would be made known to the public after deliberations and meetings are made within the family,” he said.
His absence from the political scene sparked speculation.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu had earlier this month confirmed that the former vice-chancellor of the state university was sick
The governor, however, said Mr Ikonne was “recovering gradually and progressively.”
According to him, Mr Ikonne attended some rallies organized by the PDP in Abia, including the November 24, 2022, launch of the party’s state-wide campaign at the Umuahia Township Stadium.
He went on to say that Mr Ikonne left the stadium for a gala night in his (Mr Ikpeazu’s) Umuobiakwa country home in Obingwa, “where he managed to give a speech and then he took ill.”
“It is unfortunate that he is lately indisposed, but I want to report some progress, and the progress is that Ikonne is recovering gradually and progressively.”
He has left the hospital and is going through convalescence,” the Abia governor explained. “I am sure that he will be strong enough in the future to join.”
Mr Ikpeazu urged residents of the state to keep hope alive, assuring them that Ikonne would soon bounce back. He contended that his absence from the political space this time “will not define the progress of the campaigns or agenda of PDP in the state,” noting that it might be the wish of detractors that Mr Ikonne’s absence will linger.
He said there was a time when he was sick, “permutations changed and people were allocating positions to themselves.”
“I’m sure they even appropriated my wife to themselves,” the governor stated.
