HOW PROF. IBE EMERGED APGA’S GUBERNATORIAL FLAG BEARER IN ABIA STATE WEEKS AFTER DUMPING PDP.

The Editor, Umuahia.

It was indeed a stiff but smooth battle at the gubernatorial primary election of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in Umuahia, Abia state on Saturday, the 28th May, 2022.

Aspirants for the position of the flag bearer of the party had gathered at the state’s party secretariat for the exercise as well as the delegates and party officials.

The aspirants were four (4) in number and looked ready to clinch the ticket including Prof. Greg Ibe.

It was possible for him (Ibe) to participate in the primaries of the party after he duly resigned his membership of the People’s Democratic party weeks back following some unresolved issues within the party. This he communicated to his party through his ward and local government.

The PDP chairman in Isuikwuato local government area, Charles acknowledged receipt of the letter of withdrawal from the party.

But little did he know that his destiny was lying somewhere else, waiting for his arrival to fly the flag of APGA in the state for the office of the governor.

After an obvious transparent and hitch free voting and counting of votes cast by the delegates for their preferred aspirants, Orof. Greg Ibe secured the most votes and was declared winner of the primaries.

He polled a total of 283 votes out of the 482 votes cast. The trio of Etigwe Uwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN), Gen. Ijioma N. Ijioma and Chief Chikwe Udensi came second, third and fourth respectively.

While Etigwe Uwa (SAN) scored 148 votes, Gen. Ijioma N Ijioma (retd), got 36 votes and Chief Chikwe Udensi,12 votes.

There were only three void votes.

Party faithful as well as aspirants were surprised to hear that one of them who left in the before the exercise commenced had gone to declare himself winner somewhere else. They were not however moved as they carried on with the exercise.

The Chairman of the Electoral Committee and Returning Officer, Echezona Etiaba, declared Prof. Ibe the winner of the election.

It was time to respond and Prof. Ibe categorically stated that come 2023 the two dominant political parties in the country will go into extinction. .“In 2023, there will be no APC, no PDP in the state,” he said.

He said APGA will take over Abia in 2023.

He thanked the delegates and those who ran alongside him for their peaceful conduct and comportment throughout the exercise.

According to the candidate of APGA, his emergence is the beginning of Abia liberation movement.Professor Ibe called on aspirants to support him and the party towards achieving total victory for the party in 2023.

He assured to rebuild Abia and make it a model state in the country, revealing that he will collaborate with the Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, to rebuild “Ala Igbo.”

In the spirit of sportsmanship, Etigwe Uwa congratulated Professor Ibe with a handshake while Gen. Ijioma who polled 36 votes rejected the results. It was a largely peaceful and crisis free exercise .

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies witnessed and monitored the exercise.

APGA Chairman in the state, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, confirmed the exercise was very peaceful and transparent and thanked the delegates for their peaceful conduct.