The Abia State People’s Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial candidate, Prof Uche Ikonne, is dead.

This was announced in a statement by his son, Dr Uche Ikonne, on Wednesday revealing that his father died at the National Hospital Abuja at about 4 am after a brief illness.

The statement read: “I regret to announce the death of my dear father, Prof Eleazar Uchenna Ikonne, who died at the National Hospital Abuja, today, January 25, 2023, at 4 am after a brief illness.

“He was recovering after taking proper treatment in the United Kingdom but relapsed a few days ago leading to multiple cardiac arrests from which he didn’t recover from.

“Further details and arrangements would be made known to the public after deliberations and meetings are made within the family”.

The PDP youths movement according to a release on Tuesday had noted that Ikonne displayed his frail health status at the Abia State PDP Campaign Kick-off at Umuahia on November 24 from where he was taken for treatment and had since not returned.

In the release signed by Salahudeen Lukman, President, Gbe Benjamin Orduen, National Secretary and Elekwachi Joshua, Coordinator, South East Zone, the PDP youths had said Ikonne who had been under “intensive care abroad and his inability to recuperate in the past 60 days” confirmed talks that he was not a suitable candidate