February 04, (THEWILL) – A former chief of staff (CoS) to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Okey Ahiwe, has emerged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state.
He replaces Professor Uche Ikonne, who died on January 25, following a brief illness.
Ahiwe, 57, hails from the same Isiala-Ngwa North Local Government Area with late Ikonne.
THEWILL reports that Ahiwe defeated five other aspirants including the Deputy Governor, Ude Oko-Chukwu, in a rerun primary election held at the Umuahia Township Stadium on Saturday
He secured 469 votes to beat Oko-Chukwu and Lucky Igbokwe, who polled 12 votes each.
Other contestants including Samson Orji got 11 votes, while Emma Nwaka, a former PDP chairperson, got no vote.
A total of 12 of the 504 votes cast during the exercise were voided.
Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, who was Returning Officer for the exercise, declared Ahiwe winner of the election.
Obaseki described the exercise as a process that would strengthen democracy.
“As long as the process has been done the party would mobilise all the necessary resources to support the candidate”, he said.
In an acceptance speech, Ahiwe said his emergence was a “consensus building” and victory for all the members of the PDP.
“I encourage all the contestants to join hands with me to take the party to the next level. And by the grace of God, we will win all our elections”, he said.
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