PDP Rescheduled Governorship Primary: Senator Ogba wins in Ebonyi State
#ElectionsBuzzNig’23
Senator Obinna Ogba, representing Ebonyi Central Senatorial Zone, has won the rescheduled governorship primary election of the Ebonyi Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The election took place on Sunday at the party’s secretariat in Abakaliki.
513 delegates from the 171 wards of the 13 LGAs of the state took part in the primary election.
Chief Chris Okolo, Chairman of the Electoral Panel, said that Ogba polled 253 votes to emerge the winner. While Chief Edwin Nwonu, a member of the House of Representatives representing Ishielu/Ezza North Federal Constituency, came second with 110 votes, and Dr. Sylvester Ogbaga, another member of the House of Representatives, came third with 63 votes.
Mr. Fidelis Nwankwo got 44 votes, while Chief Chukwuma Nwazunku, representing Ebonyi/Ohaukwu Federal Constituency, polled six votes, and Chief Austin Edeze secured three votes.
Senator Paulinus Igwenwagu got two votes, and Mr. Augustine Nwazunku secured one vote.
Chief Ifeanyochukwu Odii got one vote, while Mr. Chris Usulor and Dr. Sunday Opoke abstained.
According to Okolo, 14 invalid ballots were recorded.
“I, Mr. Chris Okolo, conferred with the power to chair this panel, hereby declare Senator Obinna Ogba the winner. Having polled the highest number of valid votes and having met all the requirements for the election, he is hereby returned elected.
“Agents of the aspirants, leaders of the party present, and security agents counted openly and witnessed the exercise,” Okolo said.
Meanwhile, Ogba, in his acceptance speech, extended his hand of fellowship to the other contestants and declared his victory a “victory for the PDP.”
He thanked the delegates, party members, and leaders of PDP for entrusting him with their mandate to fly the party’s flag in the state governorship election in 2023.
He said: “I feel thrilled. I thank the Almighty God who made the event very successful; I thank all our party members for finding me worthy of flying the flag of our great party, the PDP.
“To my fellow contestants, I extend my hand of fellowship to them; this is a sport and one person must win and I call on them to come and join me so that we can take our party to the highest level.”
In a brief remark, Chief Tochukwu Okorie, PDP Chair, commended the party delegates for the peaceful and orderly conduct of the exercise.
He also commended the electoral panel for conducting a seamless, peaceful, transparent, and credible exercise, urging those who lost to team up to ensure victory for the party at the 2023 general elections.
However, the primaries conducted between May 28 and May 29 by a faction led by Mr. Silas Onu and elected Odii as the governorship candidate were boycotted by the Okorie faction.
PremT/Suzan O.
