Ikpeazu’s ex-COS ,Ahaiwe wins fresh Abia PDP primary, replaces Ikonne
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Immediate past Chief of Staff to Abia State Governor, Chief Ambrose Okey Ahaiwe, has won the Abia State Peoples Deomcratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election held at the Umuahia Township Stadium on Saturday..
Ahiwe coasted home to a sweeping, landslide victory with 469 votes to defeat his four other rivals, including the Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, who tied with Mayor Lucky Igbokwe, as they got 12 votes each.
The result, as announced by the Chairman of the Special Congress Committee and Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, showed that Sampson Orji polled 11 votes, while Sir Emma Nwaka got no votes.
Prior to voting, three of the spirants, namely Mrs Ezinanyi Jonah, immediate past Commissioner for Works, Bob Chidozie Ogu and business mogul, Eric Opah, announced that they were stepping down for Ahaiwe, leaving only five contestants in the race.
With this victory. Ahiwe will now fly PDP’s flag in the March 11 governorship election in Abia state, replacing late Prof. Uche Ikonne, the erstwhile Abia PDP governorship flag bearer before he died on Wednesday, January 25, 2023.
In his acceptance speech, Ahiwe declared that there was no victor, no vanquished, adding that his emergence has unified and strengthened the party.
He commended the wise decision of leaders of the party to cede the governorship slot to Isiala Ngwa North, in honour of late Ikonne, saying that the decision has strengthened the party.
While addressing the delegates earlier, Ahaiwe promised to combine his experiences in both the public and private sectors to move Abia forward.
Chief Festus Okoye, the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Voter Education and Publicity, led other top staff of the commission to monitor the exercise, which was very peaceful, though there was heavy presence of security operatives.
