PDP primaries: Elumelu wins Reps ticket  for Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, as Asadu loses return bid

Minority Leader in the House of Representatives,  Ndudi Elumelu,  has secured a return ticket as candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for a third term to represent the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency.

Elumelu on Sunday polled a total of 80 votes out of the total votes cast by 132 delegates during the House of Representatives primary elections held in Asaba, Delta.

His closest rival, Princess Pat Ajudua, polled 35 votes while  Kanyinebi Mobushi got 17 votes.

The returning officer, Chief Funkekeme Solomon, declared Elumelu the winner of the contest for polling the highest number of votes in what he described as free, fair and transparent election.

According to Solomon, at the close of voting, 132 delegates were accredited, no void votes  and all the votes were counted.

“At the end, Mr Kanyinebi Mobushi, scored 17 votes; Mrs Pat Ajudua, scored 35 votes while Mr Ndudi Elumelu, scored 80 votes.

”Elumelu, having scored the highest votes, is hereby declared winner and returned as the candidate of the PDP for the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in the 2023 general election,” Solomon said.

Speaking after his declaration as the winner, Elumelu assured his constituents of more robust representation and dividends of democracy.

He said though he emerged top in the primaries, there was no loser as it was a family affair and not a contest.

Elumelu thanked the governor, the PDP and the people of the constituency for giving him the platform to serve.

He expressed confidence that PDP would win the general elections without hitch in the state and at the centre.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the election was closely monitored by a combined team of security agencies, the media and other stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the ambition of Dr Pat Asadu representing Nsukka/Igboeze South Federal constituency to return to the House of Representative in 2023 for the fifth time suffered a setback on Sunday.

He was beaten to the third place at the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) primary election held at Nsukka.

Chief Vita Abba emerged as the winner having polled 91 votes out of the 111 votes casted at the election.

The runner up Mr Clinton Isiwu scored 11 votes while Asadu got two votes. Messrs Chidi Obetta, Aniegbulam Ezeugwu and Chukuemeka Asogwa got one vote each.

Announcing the result, the Returning Officer, Mr Chinedu Onu, thanked delegates for conducting themselves in orderly manner at the primary election.

Onu said all the 111 delegates accredited for the primary election, voted, but four of the votes were invalidated.

In his acceptance remark, Abba expressed appreciation to the delegates for voting for him and promised that he would not disappoint the party if elected at the 2023 general elections.

“This victory is victory for PDP; victory for justice and victory for democracy in our constituency.

“I thank all delegates and the party for finding me worthy to fly the party’s flag in 2023,’’ Abba said.

Mr Bradan Uzoagba, who led Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) team to monitor the primary election, described the exercise as free and fair.

Isiwu who placed second said he accepted the result in good faith as the election was free and fair.