A member of The New Diplomat’s Newspaper Editorial Advisory Board and Former Secretary to Anambra Government, Mr. Oseloka Obaze has emerged Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the Nov.18 election in the state.
Obaze polled 672 votes to defeated Chief Alex Obiogbolu, who secured 190 votes to come second and Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah with 94 votes, for third place.
Four aspirants participated in the primary election held at Prof. Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka, which began at about 9 a.m.
Four other aspirants – Chief John Emeka, Afodike Akaolisa, Sen. Stella Oduah and Ms Linda Ikpeazu – withdrew from the race over allegations of irregularities in the list of delegates.
Chief Dave Umahi, Chairman of the Anambra Governorship Primary Election Committee, who announced the result of the poll, said that 958 delegates participated in the election.
Umahi, who is the governor of Ebonyi, said of the votes cast, 956 were valid while two votes were invalid.
He explained that the delegates list used in the conduct of the exercise was officially given to the committee by the national leadership of the party.
in his acceptance speech, Obaze expresses gratitude to God promised able representation to the people of the state.I thank God for this day and the outcome of our party primaries. I am humbled by this show of confidence reposed
I thank God for this day and the outcome of our party primaries. I am humbled by this show of confidence reposed in me by the representative electorate of our great party, PDP.
I thank our party leadership, the executive governors who oversaw the electoral process, the PDP southeast zonal leaders, and the Anambra state PDP caretaker committee, under the able leadership of Prof. ABC Nwosu.
I congratulate and thank my fellow aspirants for their graciousness and extend a hand of fellowship to them and invite them to join me in the campaign to win the government house for our party.
I thank my family, friends, admirers, and supporters immensely. To Ndi Anambra, I promise in humility to remain focused on the campaign to turn Anambra around and deliver good governance to our people because Anambra deserves better” he said.
Obaze was Secretary to State Government (SSG) of Anambra from June 12, 2012, to June 8, 2015, under former Governor Peter Obi, whose tenure ended on May 29, 2015, and briefly with incumbent governor, Willie Obiano.
Before his appointment as SSG, Obaze was in Nigeria’s diplomatic service and later, the United Nations, jobs that ran from 1982 to 2012.
In 2013, he was a governorship aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
A native of Ochuche Umuodu in Ogbaru Local Government Area, the PDP candidate was born on April 9, 1955, in Ogidi, also in Anambra.
He attended Christ the King College, Onitsha between 1967 and 1973 and Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha from 1973 to 1974.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and a Master of Arts in the same course from Nebraska Wesley University, Lincoln, U.S.
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