By Godwin Okeh, ABAKALIKI
It was jubilation galore on Sunday in Abakaliki, the capital city of Ebonyi state, as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared Governor David Umahi, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, winner of the 2019 governorship election.
Umahi scored a total of 393,043 votes to defeat his opponent, senator Sunny Ogbuorji of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who scored a total vote of 81,703.
Prof Frank Chukwuemeka Eze, the Returning Officer for Ebonyi governorship, commended the people of the state for coming out to vote, adding that the election was peaceful and devoid of violence.
However, the governorship candidate of the social Democratic Party, SDP, Prince Chibueze Agbo, who is a former commissioner of education in Ebonyi state, came 3rd by scoring a total of 1129 votes.
The collation officer said that the results collated from the 13 local government areas of the state showed that the PDP candidate won in all the 171 registration areas and 13 local government areas respectively.
According to him, total valid votes cast in the election is 482,018, total rejected votes 4,984 while total votes cast was 493,002.
“I, Prof Frank Chukwuemeka, state officer for the Ebonyi governorship election held on Saturday, March 9 hereby declare the candidate of the PDP, Chief Dave Umahi, winner of the governorship election having won the highest number of votes cast in the election.
“He has fulfilled the requirements of the law and is hereby declared the winner and returned elected,” Chukwuemeka said.
Responding, governor Umahi who spoke to newsmen through his chief press secretary, Emma commended the people for voting him in for the second term and promised to return power in 2023 to Abakaliki bloc.
“Governor David Umahi, the Governor elect of Ebonyi State has expressed his unalloyed loyalty to the patriotic citizens of Ebonyi State for re-electing him for second term and promised to consolidate on the aggressive infrastructural, human development and aggressive industrialization of the state, the tripod on which his administration stands.
“The Governor also reiterated his readiness to hand over power to Abakaliki bloc in 2023 after completing his second term to continue to rotate round the three senatorial zones of the state in the spirit of equity and justice.
“He promised that his second term projects would include the construction of Ebonyi airport, mega Olympic size stadium and completion of the already started 198km Abakaliki ring road and many more, adding that within the first four years of his administration, over 534km of roads have been constructed on rigid pavement with over 100 yeas life span, mega shopping mall, International market, Ecumenical Centre as well as new government House while the stigma on the Abakaliki man was removed by reconstructing and making Ebonyi State the model of development.
“The candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji was never the match of my boss. the verdict of the entire people of the state has reflected in their ballots across the 13 Local Government areas of the state.
“I commend INEC for their professionalism. My boss has said he will seek justice for those whose lives were cut short in the cause of the election and bring the perpetrators to book irrespective of party affiliation” he added.
He thanked the Christian and Muslim communities, civil and public servants and indeed the entire people of the state for appreciating his good works in the first term and entrusting their mandate on him again for another four years,” the CPS said.
