Ikpeazu’s former aide wins fresh PDP governorship primary in Abia

Okey Ahiwe, who resigned unannounced a few days ago as chief of staff to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, has emerged People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for governor in the state

Mr. Ahiwe emerged from the rerun primaries on Saturday at the Umuahia Township Stadium, after defeating four other candidates, including Deputy Governor Ude Oko-Chukwu.

He replaced Uche Ikonne, a professor, who died on January 25, after a brief illness.

At News Office of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Mr. Ahiwe polled 469 votes, followed by Mr. Oko-Chukwu and Lucky Igbokwe, who polled 12 votes each.

Other contestants, including Samson Orji got 11 votes, while Emma Nwaka, a former PDP chairman, got no votes.

A total of 12 out of 504 votes were cast during the exercise.

NAN reports that Eric Opah, Ezinwanyi Jonah and former Works commissioner, Bob Ogu, have withdrawn from the race for Mr. Ahiwe.

The Returning Officer for the exercise, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, declared Mr. Ahiwe the winner of the election.

Earlier in his speech, Mr. Obaseki described the exercise as a process that would strengthen democracy.

“As long as the process is completed, the party will mobilize all the necessary resources to support the candidate,” he said.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Ahiwe said the incident was “consensus building” and a victory for all PDP members.

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“I invite all contestants to join hands with me to take the party to the next level.

“And with God’s grace, we will win all the elections,” he said.

Mr. Ahiwe, 57, hails from the same Isiala-Ngwa North Local Government Area as the late Ikonne.

After Ikonne’s death, the governorship micro-zone state PDP caucus was checked into the area to compensate the people.

(IN)