The Chief of Staff to the governor of Abia State; Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, Chief Okey Ahiwe has emerged the governorship candidate of the Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Ahiwe emerged the governorship candidate of the PDP with 469 votes out of the 516 votes cast. Other aspirants including Mayor Lucky Igbokwe, Ude Okochukwu (Deputy Governor of the state) and Samson Orji scored 12 votes each.
According to the governor of Edo State, Dr. Godwin Obaseki, who was the PDP returning officer, 12 votes were invalid. Chairman of the party in the state, Allwell Asiforo Okere, who described the re-run as special, hoped that the primary will be credible. He described the aspirants as credible people and added that the party was happy that they fielded eminently qualified aspirants.
He charged them to be magnanimous in victory and expressed hope that the party would be stronger after the primary. In his speech, Obaseki who noted that Abia has remained a PDP state, begged the party members to help in strengthening democracy in the party by ensuring a smooth and transparent process of choosing the flag-bearer of the party in the state. He promised that the party would rally round whosever that the delegates chose as the party’s governorship candidate.
Earlier, three aspirants who participated in the governorship re-run stepped down for Ahiwe. The aspirants that stepped down include Deaconess Ezinwanyi Jonah, Chief Eric Opah and Bob Ogu who is the immediate Commissioner of Works in the state. Eric Opah and Ahiwe are from the same Isiala Ngwa North local government area as Ahiwe while the only female aspirant; Deaconess Ezinwanyi Jonah from Obingwa LGA.
Observers from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led by the electoral body’s national commissioner, Festus Okoye were present to monitor the process. In his acceptance speech, Ahiwe said no victor no vanquished. He thanked the delegates and leaders for consulting widely, adding that the decision of the party to zone the governorship ticket to Isiala Ngwa North would further strengthen the unity of the party. He expressed confidence that the party was going to win the governorship seat in the state
