Following the death of the former governorship flag-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uchenna Ikonne on January 25, 2023, Okey Ahaiwe has been elected as the governorship candidate in Abia State.
Ahaiwe is the immediate past Chief of Staff to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu whose two terms of eight years end on May 29, 2023.
Following the demise of Ikonne, the PDP in the state held a primary on Saturday to replace the deceased candidate in accordance to the Electoral Act 2022.
Ahaiwe scored a total number of 469 to defeat his closest contestant, the deputy governor of the state, Ude Oko-chukwu and Lucky Igbokwe who both scored 12 votes.
A former chairman of the party, Emma Nwaka, who had no vote, and a former House of Assembly member, Sampson Orji, who polled 11 votes were also participants at the primary on Saturday. A total of 516 votes were cast in the election with 12 invalid votes recorded.
The eight members of the Special Electoral Committee was headed by the governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki. Others are Senator George Sekibo, Senator Felix Kola Ogunlawe, Hon. Binta Bello, Hon. Linda Ikpeazu, Mr. Atzer Terzungwe and Hon. Felix Hassan Hyatt who served as the Secretary.
The new governorship candidate, Ahaiwe aged 57, hails from Umuire village in Eziama Ntigha Autonomous community of Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area.
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