Abia 2023: Winner Finally Emerges as PDP Guber Candidate After Ikonne's Death

• The PDP in Abia state now has a gubernatorial candidate ahead of the 2023 general election in the person of Okey Ahaiwe
• Ahaiwe is said to be the immediate former chief of staff of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state, a member of PDP's Integrity Group
• Ahaiwe's victory came rather easy as a god=od number of his rivals stepped down for him during the primary election

Abia - Okey Ahaiwe, a former chief of staff to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abia.

After a special convention monitored by a team from the Independent National Electoral Commission led by Festus Okoye, Ahaiwe polled a total number of 469 to defeat his closest rivals, the deputy governor of the state, Ude Oko-chukwu and Lucky Igbokwe who scored 12 votes each, Punch reports.

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Other candidates in the election were a former chairman of the party, Senator Emma Nwaka, who had zero votes, and a former House of Assembly member, Sampson Orji, who claimed only 11 votes.

A total number of 516 votes were cast during the special congress, and 12 votes were invalid.

Ahaiwe's came about after he secured the support of some of the aspirants including a former Commissioner for Works, Bob Ogu, a businessman, Eric Opia, and a female opponent who stepped down for him.

Declaring Ahaiwe as the winner of the poll, the chairman of the Abia PDP primary and governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki, assured him that the party will support him to win the governorship election in the state.

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On his part, 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.

Top Nigerian lawyer speaks on death of Abia PDP guber candidate, explains step party must take in 14 days

The death of Uchenna Ikonne, the Abia governorship candidate for the 2023 general election has come as a shock to many Nigerians.

Ikonne who was contesting the Abia state governorship seat in the forthcoming election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was said to have died after a brief illness.

With the 2023 general election less than five weeks away, the death of the academician-turned-politician has raised many questions regarding the fate of the PDP in the state and the party's next line of action with the polls fast approaching.

Source: Legit.ng