Ikonne emerges Abia PDP governorship candidate
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Prof. Eleazar Uche Ikonne, Wednesday evening, emerged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Abia State.
Prof Ikonne emerged from the PDP Governorship primary held at Umuahia Township Stadium.
The Chairman of the Abia PDP Governorship Primary Committee, and a former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, who announced the result, said that out of the 554 votes cast by delegates, Ikonne got 468 votes to beat nine other aspirants whose names were on the ballot.
The other two aspirants present at the Stadium to witness the exercise, Mayor Lucky Igbokwe, came second with 48 votes, and the only female aspirant, Ezenwanyi Ngozi Jonah, had 5 votes.
The rest of the results show that Enyinnaya Nwafor had 4 votes; Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe – 5 votes, Dr Sampson Orji – 4 votes; Sir Ude Oko Chukwu – 6 votes; Senator Emma Nwaka – 4 votes; Chief Ncheta Elvis Omerekpe – 3 votes and Prof. Greg Ibe – 2 votes. There was eight void votes.
Accepting his victory, Ikonne thanked PDP faithful for their massive support.
He said he was aware of the huge responsibility that was being placed on his shoulder, promising to run an inclusive but productive government that would tackle the myriads of problems facing the state if he finally wins the 2023 governorship poll in the state.
He called on PDP members to support him during the February 2023 governorship election when he would slug it out with candidates from other political parties so the he would and be sworn in as Abia State Governor on May 29, 2023.
However, a major development hours to the Abia PDP Governorship Primary was the mass withdrawal of the aspirants from the contest.
Those who announced their withdrawal, citing imposition, are Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Engr. Enyinnaya Nwafor, Chief Ncheta Elvis Omerekpe, Senator Emma Nwaka, the Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, Dr Sampson Orji and Dr Chima Anyaso; while Prof. Greg Ibe have since dumped the PDP.
