Following the conclusion of its selection process in a bid to present five possible aspirants on the platform ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the actualisation of the South-East APC Presidency Project 2023.

The South East APC Integrity Group on Sunday released the list of the five preferred aspirants after a poll it conducted on Saturday.

They were shortlisted from 17 possible 2023 presidential aspirants of South-East extraction on the party platform.

There were earlier reduced to 10 after the first selection process was completed last week.

The top five preferred aspirants as announced on Sunday morning by the Convener of the South-East APC Integrity Group, Dr. Chinedu Jideofo-Ogbuagu, are as follows:

1. Hon Dr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba – 41 votes.
2. HE Dr Ogbonnaya Onu – 6 votes.
3. HE Engr David Nweze Umahi – 5 votes.
4. HE Mr Peter Obi – 2 votes.
5. HE Barr Sullivan Iheanacho Chime – 1 vote.
6. HE Sen Rochas Anayo Okorocha – 1 vote.
7. Chief Chris Chikwado Ibe – 1 vote.
8. HE Sen Ken Nnamani – No vote.
9. HE Sen Dr Orji Uzor Kalu – No vote.
10. Chief Francis Nomeh Mgbada – No vote.

Explaining how the top five emerged out of the 10 shortlisted possible aspirants, Dr. Jideofo-Ogbuagu said a “total registered voters – 75.

“They were nominated on the basis of 5 selectors from each of the 15 senatorial zones or 15 selectors from each of the 5 states of the South-East.

“Total number of votes cast – 57”, while abstention was 18, he noted.

According a statement he personally signed, the “Highest scorers are 1-4 and each of them scored 2 or more votes.

“Among the 3 persons who scored 1 vote each, the Convener/Moderator uses his casting vote to include HE Barr Sullivan Iheanacho Chime to the list of 5 highest scoring possible presidential aspirants of South-East extraction on APC platform to be visited individually by a team of delegates of South-East APC Integrity Group.

“Our regards to the 57 nominated selectors who actually voted in the polling exercise that was conducted online on Saturday, 19th June 2021”, he further explained.

Majority of the citizens in South East of Nigeria have continued to complain of exclusion in juicy appointments by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) since the party won the presidential election in 2015 and have been clamouring to produce the next president of the country amid secessio agitations, primarily by the youths of the region over what they have described as injustice and unfair treatment in the country.