Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, has emerged the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Imo State.
He defeated Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and former governor of the state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim and 24 others who contested the primary election of the party with him held at the Grasshoppers Handball Stadium in Owerri on Monday, winning by 10 votes.
He scored 346 votes to defeat his closest rival, Senator Araraume, who polled 336 votes while Chief Ohakim got 213 votes.
Others are Senator Bright Nwanne scored 46 votes, Humphrey Anumudu 20, Bethel Amadi 15, Senator Chris Anyanwu 10, Prof. Jude Njoku 8 and Ken Njemanze 7 while Emma Ojinere and Ken Ojiri got four votes apiece.
The rest of the aspirants either got zero or one votes.
Speaking shortly after being declared winner of the primary, Ihedioha vowed to reclaim the mandate stolen by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“My victory is victory for democracy,” he said. “I will reclaim the stolen mandate of the PDP and recover what is rightly ours in Imo state. The era of rascality and impunity has caused our dear state dearly. So, today marks the beginning of the task to reclaim the state.”
