Governor of Ebonyi state, David Umahi has emerged the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, in the 2019 general election.
Umahi emerged winner in the primaries of the PDP which took place at the Pa Ngele Oruta township stadium conducted amidst tight security.
He was declared winner in the absence of any other contestants which made him stand unchallenged.
The Chairman of the electoral panel, Senator Joy Emordi said that Governor Umahi polled a total of 1,988 votes out of the 2021 delegated that participated in the primaries.
She said despite the fact that Umahi was a sole aspirant for the position, a situation that would have been decided by voice votes, the decision to go into normal election was based on the party’s internal democracy to enable the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to monitor the proceedings.
Senator Emordi described the exercise as very orderly, peaceful and organized and commended Governor Umahi for his developmental strides and expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the Congress.
Speaking shortly after he was declared the winner, Umahi said he was humbled by the show of solidarity and commitment of the members of PDP and Ebonyi people in general which he said had enabled him to achieve monumental development in the state within three years in office.
Umahi said the party flag given to him to run on its platform for the next four years as governor was a call to serve and do more work, adding that his first tenure had been memorable and witnessed unprecedented development while his second term will be a period to do more work and consolidate on already achieved development.
He thanked the leadership of the party at all levels for providing a level playing field for all aspirants to contest in all the positions.
Umahi further stated that he is retaining his deputy governor Eric Kelechi Igwe, as his running mate in the 2019 general election.
“We are not ungrateful that the party,PDP, in the state allowed us to run alone. In other states, sitting governors are not allowed to run unchallenged but for us here, you allowed me to run alone. Indeed, I am grateful to PDD” he stated.
RIVERS:
In Port Harcourt, NAN reports that Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike emerged victorious as the governorship candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 general elections in Rivers.
The Chairman of the Electoral Panel and the Returning Officer of the PDP primary elections, Mr Chukwuma Chinwe, said 3,490 voters were accredited for the primary.
He noted that of the 3,490 total votes, 3,345 voted in favour of Wike as the candidate for the PDP Governorship elections in 2019 , with 9 voided votes.
Chinwe later declared Wike as the winner of the elections.
Wike, while making an acceptance speech after emerging victorious at a PDP primary elections, thanked the delegates for electing him.
He said that he would not disappointment the people for placing their confidence in him after the general elections in 2019.
‘’As a former council Chairman, a former Chief of Staff and a former Minister, I shall bring my experience to bear in the continued governance of the state,’’ Wike said.
AKWA IBOM:
Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom was on Sunday in Uyo affirmed by party faithful as the governorship candidate of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 elections
NAN reports that Emmanuel was announced as the candidate by the PDP panel Chairman, Gov. Ayodele Fayose, of Ekiti who conducted the primaries.
Fayose said that Emmanuel polled a total of 3,807 votes out of 3,817 votes cast, adding that 10 votes were voided.
He said that Emmanuel was the only aspirant of the party in the state and explained that the delegates had to vote in order to complete due process in line with the electoral law.
In his acceptance speech after his election, Emmanuel thanked the delegates from across the 31 Local Government areas of Akwa Ibom.
He said that his endorsement was an evidence of his acceptance by the Akwa Ibom people.
