The immediate past Chief of Staff to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Okey Ahaiwe, has clinched the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).
The chairman of the Abia PDP primary and governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, made this declaration following the completion of the primary election.
Obaseki while making the announcement said Ahaiwe garnered a total of 469 votes to defeat his closest rivals, the deputy governor of the state, Ude Oko-chukwu and Lucky Igbokwe who scored 12 votes each.
Others who participated in the primary election are former chairman of the party, Senator Emma Nwaka, who had no vote, and a former House of Assembly member, Sampson Orji, who polled 11 votes.
A total number of 516 votes were cast during the special congress, and 12 votes were invalid.
Earlier in his speech, the state chairman, Alwell Asiforo Okere, said the special convention became necessary following the death of the former governorship candidate of the party, Ikonne.
“We lost our governorship candidate Ikonne ten days ago, It is for that reason that we are here today because the electoral act particularly section 33 has compelled us to elect another candidate within 14 days.
“We are very confident that the team led by Obaseki, will do a good job because the party knows the kind of man he is before sending him.
“We know all the candidates. We urge the winner to be magnanimous and embrace others.
“We must do everything to rescue Nigeria from corruption and poverty by starting from Abia State.”
In his acceptance speech, Ahaiwe thanked the party delegates for electing him to fly the party colour in the forthcoming election.
He said he would bring his experience from the private and government sectors to move the state forward.
The special convention was monitored by a team from the Independent National Electoral Commission led by Festus Okoye
