Abia: Ibe wins APGA governorship primary, as Udensi conducts solo exercise
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
The Chancellor and Founder of Gregory University, Uturu (GUU), Prof. Gregory Ibe, has been declared the governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State.
This followed his victory at the APGA governorship primary election conducted on Sunday, May 29, 2022 in Umuahia.
Announcing the results, the Electoral Committee Chairman and Returning Officer, Bar. Echozona Etiaba (SAN), said that 482 delegates were accredited for the exercise.
Echozona announced that Prof. Gregory Ibe polled 283 votes to beat three other contenders.
He said that a lawyer and also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Etigwe Uwa, came second with 148 votes; General Ijioma N. Ijioma (Rtd.) placed third 36 votes while Chief Chikwe Udnesi, a security consultant, secured 12 votes. Three votes were voided.
Accepting his victory in the APGA governorship primary, an elated Ibe, a Professor of Entrepreneur, thanked the electoral committee members for a well-organised primary contest; his oponents and member of the party, assuring that together they shall uplift Abia.
He stressed that the manner in which the primary was conducted by all stakeholders, including the National and State working Committees, buttressed the party’s motto of “Onye aghala Nwanne ya (Be your brother’s keeper).”
He expressed optimism that the party would take over the reins of power in Abia, come 2023.
If he realizes his ambition of becoming Abia State governor, Prof. Ibe said he would accord priority to job creation, which, he said, would not only increase the Gross Domestic Product of the State but also that of the nation.
”We shall borrow ideas from Anambra and replicate it here, they have Onitsha and we have Aba, we shall do much more,” he said.
Earlier, the State chairman of the party, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, had denied the rumour that of one of the aspirants, Chief Chikwe Udensi, emerged as the Party’s governorship flagbearer, saying it was misleading because as of the time of that report, the Abia APGA governorship primary was still ongoing.
Ehiemere spoke against the backdrop of reports that one of the aspirants, Chief Chikwe Undensi, reportedly organized another primary and declared himself winner and candidate of the party.
The OracleToday learnt that while the APGA governorship primary was taking place at kolping Society, Umuahia, Udensi gathered his supporters and held his own primary at Villa Roy Hotel, Umuahia where he was the sole contestant and winner.
Reports said that Udensi polled 433 votes to be returned unopposed, as announced by the Returning Officer, Mr Prince Ukaonu,
Chief Udensi reportedly thanked the party for nominating him as its flag bearer and promised to transform Abia, if given the mandate in 2023.
“I feel great. We will ensure that we take over the state. You can rest assured that I will not disappoint you.”My plan is to transform Abia and make it great again and things work the way they should work. I have no doubts that we can change the narrative and not disappoint Abians. I will reach out to other aspirants and ask them to join hands with me to make sure that APGA wins election in Abia state,” he was quoted as having told his supporters.
