Charles Nwankwo, Abakaliki
As the 2023 general elections draws near, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has yesterday 24th May 2022 conducted State House of Assembly primaries, elected and returned 24 candidates that will fly the flag of the party in the 2023 General Election in Ebonyi State.
The APGA Primary Election was conducted at the party’s State Office along Abakaliki Enugu Express Way Ebonyi State.
Briefing Newsmen on the outcome of the election, the Ebonyi State Chairman of the party Mr. Ricky Okorouka said that APGA is a political party that was founded and built on the platform of love, describing the party as an alternative platform for possible bargaining of power from the central.
Mr. Okorouka said that the State House of Assembly Election was quite successful, free and Fair, stating that in most constituencies, one person each were supported to vied by their constituency members excerpt Ezza North West and Ezza North East where five aspirants respectively contested.
“Today our state house of Assembly primary elections was quite successful in most of the constituencies we had aspirants from various constituencies, in Ezza North East and Ezza North West we had up to five aspirants respectively contested and the election was hitch free, credible and free and fair, the INEC officials witnessed the election, security agencies were all there to ensure that everything was successful there was no gunshots on like other political party
“APGA as a political party was established following Igbo principle. The leadership of the party from the time of it’s formation originated from Igbo extraction Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu who founded the party had the principal of Igbo ideology, he believed that it should carry the will of the Igbo people and use it to bargain power from the central, that is why in Anambra experience the Igbos have started to use APGA as alternative platform for possible bargaining of power from the central, today everybody is yeaning for APGA as an alternative platform. I enjoin you in the next one week you see more crowd joining APGA from the various political parties that are having crises here and there. I can assure you that APGA remains the best political party in Nigeria for now.
The State Governorship aspirant under the platform of the party Professor Benard Odo in an interview with newsmen at the party Secretariat in Abakaliki said that the election was successful and fair election.
Prof. Odo said that the contest was done openly, delegates had their ballot Pepers voted for the aspirants of their choices, the votes were counted and winners declared, adding that the turnout is confidence and the cooperation is encouraging.
“We just rounded off primaries in 24 state constituencies for house of Assembly positions in Ebonyi State and the exercise is successful
“We had contest in some constituencies those contest were done openly, delegates had their ballot papers they voted for the aspirant of their choices the votes were collected counted and winners declared. INEC, security agencies like police DSS and civil defense were witnessed the exercise.
“Am happy for the level of support we have enjoyed from across the state. Every constituency came here in their numbers. We had delegates primaries and it is specifically in line with the law. Three man adhoc delegates was applied across the various constituencies. The next stage is that on the 27th we are going to have primaries for Senate and House of Representatives on 29th Governorship primaries and on 30th is for APGA Presidential primaries and that will bring the closure the process of party primaries and the party will submit names to INEC before the closure on the 3rd of June with that we would have come to a successful conclusion of APGA schedule for primaries for 2023 general elections.
You will agree with me that day by day the crowd to activity is unimaginable and we are confidence that our people are confidence in what we are saying and they believe that I will not let them down if l become the Governor of Ebonyi State. The turnout is impressive, the cooperation is encouraging and the calls from across the state are people that are excited about my intention.
One of the aspirants who was elected to fly the flag of the party in Afikpo North Local Government Mr. Omaka Onya said that he will focus on business career development, education, health and security if elected come 2023, adding that with the immergence of Prof. Benard IfeanyiChukwu Odo as a Governor of Ebonyi I can tell you that APGA is a party to be and Ebonyians will have every course to smile.
