APC declares Imo Gov. Uzodimma winner of gov’ship election unopposed

The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, has secured the governorship ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the primary election which took place in the state.

The Governor was the only candidate in the primary election which was done in Owerri, the capital of the state.

The chairman of the primary election committee, Williams Kayoda, said the governor gathered 63,618 votes to secure the governorship ticket of the party.

According to the chairman, 64,667 delegates were accredited.

“During our short stay, we appointed ward and local government area committees for the purposes of the election,” he said.

“My mandate was to follow democratic principles, ensure that it is constitutional, legitimate, morally supported and legally binding.

“In line with that mandate, we have conducted the primary election through direct primary in all the 27 local government areas.”

The chairman said the primary election was peaceful and violence free.

While expressing his delight over the outcome of the poll, the Governor commended the delegates and loyalists of the party for having confidence in him.

“The victory of today’s event is a victory dedicated to God almighty and a victory that I will cherish for a long time,” he said.

“For me, I see it as a mark of confidence from the members of our great party and the entire Imo people at large.

“Looking back, you will agree with me that from where we met Imo state in 2020 and where we are in 2023, there is a huge difference.

“If that is what touched your heart to challenge me to continue, I assure you that I will do my best not to betray this confidence you have reposed in me.

“I pray that God almighty will give me the courage, wisdom, knowledge, and resources to take Imo to its destination.

“When you go home, pray for me. The Imo you see today would have been three times better, if not for the huge money we spent fighting insecurity, but God almighty has intervened.

“Going forward, we will double our speed.”

The governorship election in the state will be held on November 11.

Gov. Wike reveals why former Imo Gov. Ihedioha withdrew gov’ship ambition

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has revealed why the former Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, withdrew his governorship ambition in his state.

While addressing newsmen on Tuesday April 11 in Port Harcourt, the capital of the state, Wike dismissed the reason given by the former Governor for withdrawing his governorship ambition in the state.

He said the former Governor was depending on the presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in order to win the governorship election.

He added that he withdrew his governorship ambition because Atiku did not equally win his election.

He said Ihedioha has thought he would win the election with the influence of Atiku from the federal level, if Atiku had won.

He said Ihedioha does not have what it takes and the chance to defeat the incumbent Governor of the state, Hope Uzodimma.

He said: “Assuming the PDP candidate (Atiku) won, would he (Ihedioha) have withdrawn? When you know that ‘I can’t make it’. These people are looking for those who will push them.

“He knows that he cannot stand Hope Uzodimma, it is not possible. That was why he had to chicken out. Forget about (their claim) that they wanted consensus. You see, people give you reasons that you just buy. He knows that it would difficult for him and as a wise man, he looked for one excuse and ran away.

“The whole hope (of Ihedioha) was that Atiku was going to be president and that would give him leverage to now fight the incumbent. But now, Atiku is not there”

The Informant247 earlier reported that Ihedioha withdrew from the governorship primary of the PDP in the state.

The Informant247 recalls that Ihedioha was successfully screened and cleared a few days ago by the party ahead of the November 11 governorship election in the state.

The former deputy speaker of House of Representatives has informed the leadership of the party of his decision to back off of the guber race.

The former federal lawmaker in a letter dated March 27, 2023, said he sacrificed his ambition for the party to come up with a consensus candidate.

He had a few weeks ago said his party would come victorious in the state.

He was in January 2020 sacked by the Supreme Court after spending close to seven months in office.