Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Professor Greg Ibe has won the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, for the 2023 election.
The Uturu-born Entrepreneur secured 283 votes to defeat his closet rival, Etigwe Uwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN from Ohafia, also from Abia North senatorial district.
Etigwe Uwa, SAN came second with 148 votes while Gen. Ijioma N Ijioma (retd), came third with 36 votes.
Chief Chikwe Udensi came last with only 12 votes out of the 482 total vote cast while three votes were voided.
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.
Professor 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 Progressives Congress, APC, accusing them of responsibility for the mis-governance in the state.
“In 2023, there will be no APC, no PDP in the state,” Ibe vowed, saying that APGA will take over Abia in 2023.
Meanwhile, Etigwe Uwa had a handshake with Professor Ibe; while Gen. Ijioma said he would not accept the result of the primaries, arguing that there is no way he could have secured only 36 votes.
The exercise 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 primaries stormed out before the commencement of voting.
APGA Chairman in the state, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, described the exercise as very peaceful and transparent.
He thanked the delegates for their peaceful comportment.
