Yesterday the People’s Democratic Party in Abia state went to the polls to decide who will fly the Party’s Governorship flag for the 2023 General election after the death of Prof Eleazar Uchenna Ikonne, who died on the 25th of January 2023.
The Primary started with a minute of silence in honor of Prof Ikonne, the Chairman of the party in the state Rt Hon Asiforo Okere addressed Party faithfuls and delegates and handed over the Microphone to the state acting Publicity secretary Elder Abraham Amah who moderated the primaries.
is time for the aspirants to address the delegates and each aspirants was given three minutes each.
Mayor Lucky Igbokwe, Dr Sampson Orji, Senator Emma Nwaka and the state Deputy Governor Rt Hon Ude Okochukwu addressed the delegates and urged them to vote in the interest of the state and the party.
Things took different twist when the only female Guber aspirant in the race who hales from Obingwa LGA mounted the podium to address the delegates, in her words “ I Deaconess Ezinwanyi Jonah one of the Governorship Aspirant of Abia PDP, for the sake of Peace and understanding and for the virtues of zoning, I want to let the members of the committee to know that the level of Peace and understanding in this state when the Aspirants and members of the caucus gathered and zoned the Governorship seat to Isiala Ngwa North, I therefore urge all my delegates to vote for my brother Okey Ahiwe, today I am boldly stepping down for him.
The twist continued when the former Commissioner for works Barr Bob Chiedozie Ogu was asked to address the delegates, he mounted the podium and invited his brother and fellow aspirant Chief Eric Opah to the podium, the crowd went into jubilation immediately he asked the immediate past Chief of staff to the Governor to join them on the podium, he said “ We want to thank the party for zoning the Governorship seat to Isiala Ngwa north, in respect to our late brother Prof Ikonne that we lost, we sincere Appreciate the Party for that, Myself and Eric Opah we are saying in the spirit of togetherness we are adopting Chief Okey Ahiwe as the Candidate of ndi Isiala Ngwa North and urge all the delegates to vote for him, he has our support.
Chief Eric Opah said “ I have discussed extensively with my brother Chief Okey Ahiwe on how to manage the resources of the state and move the state forward and In respect to our late uncle Prof Ikonne Ian adopting Chief Okey Ahiwe as our consensus candidate for the Governorship race.
The event took another twist when the state acting publicity secretary and the vice Chairman of the party in Abia North Elder Abraham Amah invited the Deputy Governor sir Ude Okochukwu to present a speech on behalf ndi Abia North, the invitation which didn’t go well with the Deputy Governor who maintained his sitting position, he was also invited again but refused to address the people, a reasons for his refusal and the contents of the address is still unknown to the public.
Chief Okey Ahiwe mounted the podium addressed the delegates and party faithfuls and voting began.
Announcing the result, the returning officer and Governor of Edo state Godwin Obaseki announced that the aspirants got the following votes.
Senator Emma Nwaka – Nil.
Hon. Dr. Sampson Orji 11 votes,
Mayor Lucky Igbokwe 12 votes
Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu 12 votes
Chief Sir Okechukwu Ambrose Ahiwe 469 votes.
He declared Chief Okechukwu Ambrose Ahiwe as the winner of the Primary.
The primary was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, led by the Commission for voter Education Mr Festus Okoye.
