All Progressives Congress (APC), Abia State chapter has expressed optimism that the South East Development Commission will address socio-economic, infrastructure, unemployment and security challenges in the zone.

The chapter also urged youths and residents of the state to stay away from the planned nationwide hardship protests, saying the federal government was already addressing the issues of concerns.

Caucus leaders and stakeholders of the chapter stated this in a communique they issued after their meeting at the state secretariat in Umuahia, the state capital, which was made available to newsmen.

They commended and thanked President Bola Tinubu for signing the bill for the establishment of the commission into law, describing the gesture as very timely and a welcome development.

Signatories of the communique were deputy speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ben Kalu; the 2023 governorship candidate, High Chief Ikechi Emenike; the chairman, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu: and secretary, Chief Chidi Avaja.

The communique read by a former speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Hon Martins Azubuike, urged the members “to eschew bitterness, rancour, avoid distractions and embrace peace, team spirit, and reconciliation” at all levels to move the party forward in the state.

He said they reviewed the cases of members who were suspended in 2022 and 2023 and magnanimously and unanimously resolved to lift the suspension in the spirit of unity and reconciliation.

According to the seven-point communique, “the caucus and stakeholders further mandated members who instituted police or court cases against the party to withdraw same henceforth.”

They mandated the State Working Committee “to prevail on members holding either elective or appointive positions in the federal government to make monthly financial contributions for the running of the party in the state.”

The caucus/stakeholders resolved that new members who qualify to attend their meetings should register their membership in their wards and identify with their local and the state executives for relevance and recognition purposes.

In their respective speeches at the meeting, Emenike, Kalu, the deputy governorship candidate, Barr Gloria Akara; former speaker of the House of Assembly, Chinedum Orji; Major-Gen Charles Okoro (Rtd), and Mrs Mary Ikokwu, among others sued for unity and peace among party members.

Emenike maintained: “My commitment to the development of the party will never end. Let’s work together to make the party stronger and focused on the mission ahead in the state.”

Similarly, the deputy speaker said: “I want us to build on the peace and harmony we have all laboured to achieve. We need to respect each other and make the new members stay.”

In an address of welcome, the chairman, Ononogbu said from all indications, the party was becoming a stronger institution in the state despite challenges, describing it as an indication of the members desire for change.