Former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Uche Ogah has been declared winner of Abia State APC governorship primary election.
He was declared the winner of the direct primary election which took place in the 184 wards in the 17 local government areas of the state by the returning officer, Perfect Okorie in the early hours of Friday in Umuahia.
According to him, out of the total of 195,801 votes cast, the former Minister polled 141,952 votes to beat his closest rival, Paul Ikonne who got 27,054.
Others who participated at the direct primary election include, Ikechi Emenike who polled 9,446, Emeka Atuma with 7,429 and Obinna Oriaku with 5,553.
Although Alex Otti had left the party he still got 2,414 while Daniel Eke who got 1,953.
The returning officer said the outcome of the election was a reflection of the total will of the people of Abia State.
On Thursday, Ikechi Emenike was announced the winner of an indirect primary election which took place in Umuahia the state capital. However, Ogah and other aspirants kicked again the indirect primary adopted by the Ikechi Emenike faction, stating that it was in contravention of the directive of national leadership of APC that Abia, Benue and Osun were listed to adopt the direct primary as a way of enhancing inclusion.
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Peter Agba Kalu hails election
Meanwhile, a top politician in the state, Peter Agba Kalu has hailed the outcome of the election, describing it as free, fair and transparent.
According to him, Abia State being the first state by alphabetical order showed a good example of how things should be done to avoid any legal cumbersome in the future.
His words: “The immediate past Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Uche Ogah was declared winner of Abia State APC governorship primary election. In one of the most perfectly organised gubernatorial primaries in the history of the nation.
“There was no room for monetary inducement as the NEC of APC gave a directive that power to elect the governorship candidate of Abia State APC be thrown to the people. It was in this process that Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah was declared the winner of the direct primary election which took place in the 184 wards in the 17 local government areas of the state by the returning officer, Barr. Perfect Okorie, in the early hours of Friday in Umuahia.”
He described the action of Ikechi Emenike as undemocratic and against the directives of APC NEC
“Ikechi Emenike going against the clear written directives of the NEC committee of APC, which is the highest decision taking organ of the party…is in total disobedience of the directives of the highest national body of the party. The Emenike letter literally imposed him as the sole governorship candidate of the party. The letter looks so comical that at first sight, you will see desperation of a loser afraid to face challenge clearly spelt across the page.
“The electoral amendment process that has been causing confusion could have been settled if other states had taken the APC example in Abia, Benue, and the Osun states
“People like Uche Ogah, the Ppresident of Master Energy, who has established a multiple investments in the state that’s worth hundreds of billions are the type of people we should look beyond party affiliation and encourage into leadership. The path others preach and promised they have shown by good example.
“Uche Ogah’s victory gives a massive hope to the political process. It’s a big victory for APC nationwide.
“Congratulations APC Abia for getting it right amid all these electoral confusions the amended electoral process throws on us,” he said.
