The nationwide congress held by the All Progressives Congress, APC, across the States of the federation has produced two chairmen in Enugu State.
Daily Post reports that earlier on Saturday, a former commissioner in Enugu State, Chief Ugo Agballah was announced as winner in one of the locations in the State. He belongs to a faction of the party which has the backing of former Senate President, Ken Nnamani.
However, while he was jubilating, an election was taking place at the Enugu State Secretariat of the APC, where the pioneer Deputy Chairman of the Party in the State, Comrade Adolphus Ude emerged winner.
Ude polled a total of 782 out of the 1, 300 votes cast during the exercise by delegates from the 260 political wards in the State.
He defeated Dr. Charles Chukwu who scored 202 votes, while Chief Benson Eze, who came a distant third, got 142 votes.
Ude was elected with the full members of the State Executive.
Chairman of the Enugu State Congress Committee, Mr. Jonathan Akaya, announced Ude as the winner.
Speaking during the exercise, the outgoing State Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Party, Dr. Ben Nwoye commended the congress delegates from all the three Senatorial districts of the State for the peaceful manner they conducted themselves throughout the exercise.
Nwoye, however, lambasted Nnamani, for spearheading a parallel congress in a private facility in Enugu, rather than coming to the State party Secretariat as director by the national leadership of the APC.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after he was declared winner, the new Enugu APC boss, Ude, said “I really feel fulfilled today, and want to say, to God be the glory, because it’s God that made it possible.
“I also want to commend in a special way, the Dr. Ben Nwoye-led exco and the Enugu state congress committee for conducting a free and fair election today.”
He promised to build on the feats recorded by the outgoing Chairman, Nwoye, whom he said, did well while piloting the affairs of the party in the State.
Elected alongside Comrade Ude were Chief Anike Nworga, who clinched the position of the Deputy Chairman, while the former State Administrative Secretary, Mr. Eva Asadu emerged as the Secretary of the party.
Others are Hon. Chuks Patrick Owo, Publicity Secretary, with 367 votes, beating his opponent, Hon. Kelvin Okenwa who scored 341, Hon Mrs Favour Asogwa emerged the State woman leader with 503 votes, to defeat Lolo Queen Nwankwo who scored 408 votes.
Also elected by the Congress, which ended around after 10 pm, were Mr. Chuks Adibe, Treasurer, Dr. Oby Aji, Financial Secretary, Hon. Ifeanyi Ede, Organising Secretary, Chukwudi Igwe, Legal Adviser, Sunny Umabi, Zonal Vice Chairman, Enugu East.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that Chime, Onyeama and other stalwarts of APC in the State were more disposed to the candidacy of a former military governor of Gombe State, Group Captain Joe Orji, who alongside other contestants boycotted the parallel congress held at an event center.
