Industrialist and founder of Gregory University Uturu, Professor Greg Ibe, on Sunday emerged as the Abia governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, for the 2023 election.
The Professor of Entrepreneur polled 283 out of the 482 total votes cast, to beat others, including a strong party chieftain in the state, Chikwe Udensi, at the primary held on Sunday May29, at Kolping Society Umuahia, Abia State.
Chief Udensi came last with only 12 votes while three votes were voided.
In the hot contested primary, Etigwe Uwa, SAN, came second with 148 votes while Gen. Ijioma N Ijioma (retd), came third with 36 votes.
The Chairman of the Electoral Committee and Returning Officer, Echezona Etiaba announced Ibe the winner of the contest.
In his acceptance speech, Ibe thanked the delegates and his co-contestants for their peaceful conduct and comportment.
He described his emergence as the beginning of Abia liberation movement.
Professor Ibe particularly thanked his co-contestants who he described as his personal friends, promising to carry them along while soliciting their support for total victory in 2023.
Ibe promised to rebuild Abia and make it a model state in the country, adding that he will collaborate with the Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo to rebuild Ala Igbo.
He gave quit notice to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the main opposition All Progressive Congress, APC, accusing them of responsible for the misgovernance in the state.
” In 2023, there will be no APC, no PDP in the state”, Ibe vowed, adding that APGA will take over Abia in 2023.
Meanwhile, Uwa had a handshake with Professor Ibe, Ijioma kicked against the outcome of the election, arguing that there is no way he could have secured only 36 vote.
The exercise which was transmitted on live tv was generally peaceful and witnessed by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC; and security agencies.
However, Udensi who was at the venue of the primary stormed out before the commencement of voting.
There were also social media reports midway into the exercise that Udensi had emerged winner, but the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Etiaba had dismissed the reports, saying there was no way anybody could declare himself the winner of an exercise that was on-going.
“It was fantastic”, said Chief Emeka Okoafor.
Speaking to News Express this morning(Monday, May30),in his appraisal of the processes and conduct of the election, Hon Okoafor, the Director General of Professor Gregory Ibe Campaign Organisation said Nigerians should learn some useful lessons from this particular election. He said the integrity of the poll was not compromised, stressing that the guber primary was transparent, credible, free and fair. He commended the delegates for their ability to shun money politics. He said the delegates were focused on electing the best candidate. Okoafor added that the delegates knew that Abians are suffering because of misrule by the PDP government. He said the delegates want an end to the suffering in Abia by voting Ibe as APGA’s flagbearer, whom they trust will bring about the desired change in 2023. Okoafor also appealed to the delegates not to rest after the primary, but to work hard to ensure that Ibe and APGA win the main election by next year. He charged the delegates to rally support of all Abia people of voting age to come out enmasse and vote for Ibe and APGA candidates in the 2023 general elections. “I thank the delegates for their trust in Prof Ibe. I thank in a special way our leaders in the party for their commitment towards taking control of power in Abia by next year. I call on everybody to come together and work as a common force. It is time for all hands to be on deck”, Okoafor stated.
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