2023: Ogba emerges Ebonyi PDP guber candidate
From Chinedu Nwafor, Abakaliki
The Senator representing Ebonyi Central senatorial zone, Obinna Ogba, has emerged the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State.
Ogba was declared winner of the party’s governorship primary election held on Sunday, June 5, 2022 at the State Party’s Secretariat along Enugu/Abakaliki expressway.
Mr Chris Okolo, Chairman of the Electoral Panel who announced the results before at about past 1a.m on Sunday, said that Ogba polled a total 253 valid votes cast to defeat Aspirants.
According to Okolo, Hon. Edwin Nwonu, member representing Ishielu/Ezza North federal constituency came a distant second with 110 votes while another Reps member, Dr Sylvester Ogbaga came third with 63 votes.
Okolo further stated that Mr Fidelis Nwankwo garnered 44 votes; Chief Chukwuma Nwazunku, representing Ebonyi/Ohaukwu federal constituency polled six votes, Chief Austin Edeze got three votes, Sen Paulinus Igwenwagu, got two votes, Mr Augustine Nwazunku polled one vote and Professor Adaeze Nwuzor, the only woman who contest the election got no vote.
Mr Okolo who said that 14 invalid ballots were recorded added that Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii who boycotted the polls got one vote while Mr Chris Usulor and Dr Sunday Opoke abstained from the gubernatorial primary election.
He said: “Therefore, I, Mr Chris Okolo having been conferred with the power to chair this panel hereby declare Sen. Obinna Ogba winner having polled the total highest number of valid votes and having met all the requirements for the election and he is hereby returned elected.
“The exercise was counted openly and witnessed by agents of the aspirants, leaders of the party present as well as security agents.”
Ogba who spoke to Journalists shortly after he was declared the winner, extended hands of fellowship to the other contestants declaring his victory as 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 governorhip election in 2023.
“I feel very happy, I thank the Almighty God who made the event very successful; I thank all our party members for finding me worthy to fly the flag of our great party, the PDP.
“I especially thank Distinguished Sen. Pius Anyim, Sen Sam Egwu, Chief Ali Odefa, the Zonal National Vice chairman of our party, and the state party Chairman, Chief Tochukwu Okorie.
“To my fellow contestants, I extend my hands of fellowship to them; this is a sports and one person must win and so, I call on them to come and join me so that we can take our party to the highest level.”
The party Chairman, Okorie, in an interview, commended the party delegates for peaceful and orderly conduct in 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.
