By Izunna Okafor, Awka
There was an outburst of joy at the Nnewi South Local Government Headquarters in Ukpor on Tuesday as Hon. Uche Ochuba emerged top among the chairmanship aspirants elected by stakeholders of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the local government area ahead of the forthcoming local government election.
Hon. Ochuba polled a total of 51 votes to lead the field, followed by Hon. Chukwumaobi Chukwunenye Vincent who scored 33 votes, edging narrowly ahead of Hon. Sunny Ozobialu who polled 32 votes, while Hon. Nwabunwanne Atusiobi came fourth with two votes. One of the aspirants, Hon. Ikechukwu Charles Ugoagwu, who had stepped down before the commencement of voting, also recorded three votes which were subsequently classified as invalid votes.
The stakeholders’ meeting and screening exercise, which was convened and presided over by Nnewi South APGA Chairman, Hon. Azubuike Osuchukwu, was supervised by Hon. Augustine Onyemaobi as the Returning Officer and Mrs. Ginika Omile as the Monitoring Officer. The exercise initially had six aspirants listed for the race. However, before voting commenced, two aspirants — Hon. Ikechukwu Charles Ugoagwu and Hon. Ikechukwu Umeaniba — officially withdrew from the race, leaving the contest for the other four aspirants — Ochuba, Chukwumaobi, Ozobialu and Atusiobi.
The atmosphere at the stakeholders’ engagement, which attracted a large turnout of party leaders, past and present political office holders, top government functionaries and other stakeholders from the ten towns that make up Nnewi South Local Government Area, was initially charged with spirited debates, deferring opinions and brotherly disagreements over procedures and modalities. However, these exchanges were eventually resolved through dialogue, interpretation of party guidelines, and appeals for unity, paving the way for a very smooth, peaceful, transparent and credible exercise that reflected the collective will of the party faithful.
Addressing stakeholders before the voting commenced, the Anambra State Head of Service, Barr. Theodora Igwegbe, mni, emphasized the need for the entire process to strictly follow the guidelines and internal democratic principles of APGA.
She urged stakeholders to approach the process as a brotherly contest aimed at selecting the best hands to move Nnewi South forward, rather than a do-or-die affair. The HOS called on all aspirants and their supporters to place the interest of the party and the local government above personal ambitions; even as she further appealed for calm, maturity and acceptance of the outcome in good faith and in the overall interest of peace and progress.
Also speaking before voting began, the Returning Officer, Hon. Augustine Onyemaobi, took time to clearly explain the voting process and the arithmetic behind the accreditation of voters. He disclosed that a total of 128 delegates were initially registered for the stakeholders’ meeting. Out of this number, 122 delegates were successfully accredited. In addition, four of the aspirants whose names did not appear on the stakeholders’ register were allowed to vote, bringing the total number of accredited voters to 126.
However, he explained that following the withdrawal of two aspirants before the commencement of voting, one of the withdrawn aspirants who was not originally listed among the registered stakeholders was directed to exit the venue, as he was then neither eligible to vote nor be voted for. This adjustment reduced the total number of valid voters to 125, which formed the basis upon which the voting was conducted.
The election itself was conducted peacefully and transparently, followed immediately by open counting of votes in the presence of stakeholders, party officials and the aspirants. The announcement of the results triggered cheers and applause, particularly as Hon. Ochuba emerged with a clear lead among the aspirants screened by the stakeholders.
With the successful conclusion of the exercise and the emergence of the top aspirants, it was gathered that the result and names of the top aspirants will be forwarded to the leadership of APGA, for a square up with the incumbent Mayor, Hon. Van George Ezeogidi, who is automatically one of the aspirants, in line with the party’s guidelines. From this “square-up” involving the emerged aspirants and the incumbent Chairman, the party will eventually produce one candidate who will be the APGA flag bearer in the August 29 local government election in the State.
Speaking in an interview with this reporter, Izunna Okafor, shortly after the exercise, the APGA Chairman in Nnewi South, Hon. Azubuike Osuchukwu, described the stakeholders’ meeting as successful and in line with the party’s processes ahead of the forthcoming election.
He explained that the purpose of the meeting was to allow stakeholders screen the aspirants and recommend credible names ahead of the party’s primary election. According to him, the screening exercise was part of the preparations towards the local government election, after which reports would be forwarded to the party’s leadership at both the state and national levels for final decisions.
Reacting to concerns about the disagreements that preceded the commencement of voting, the party chairman said such differences were normal in any democratic setting, stressing that the important thing was that the process eventually went smoothly and peacefully. He maintained that the views expressed by stakeholders were part of internal democracy and even helped to strengthen the process and also validate the credibility of the exercise and its outcome.
Hon. Osuchukwu further advised contestants who were not among the leading aspirants to remain steadfast in the party, noting that political opportunities are not limited to one contest as other opportunities still lie ahead.
“If it is not turn today, that does not mean that I will never be your turn again. No! If you don’t win today, you may win tomorrow. So, I advise them to remain steadfast in their loyalty and support to the party, because we are all one big family,” he advised; while also commending Governor Chukwuma Soludo and the leadership of the party at both national and state levels, for their continuous support to the growth of the party in Nnewi South and beyond.
The party Chairman also expressed confidence in APGA’s strength and dominance in Anambra State. He further expressed confidence that the party will again sweep the forthcoming local government election in the state.
“We did it before, and we will do it again. Anambra is APGA land,” he concluded.
Also speaking in an interview with this reporter, the highest scorer in the exercise, Hon. Uche Ochuba, expressed gratitude to stakeholders for the overwhelming confidence reposed in him. He described his emergence as a reflection of loyalty, consistency and long years of commitment to the party, rather than mere chance.
Ochuba recalled that he had contested the same position in the past and lost, but chose to remain in the party and continue contributing to its growth. He highlighted his roles in past elections, including serving as a ward campaign chairman in both the senatorial by-election and the governorship election held last year, where his ward delivered massively for the party.
He said the support he received during the screening exercise was a clear endorsement of his competence, dedication, and loyalty to APGA, as well as his relationship with the party’s stakeholders at the grassroots. According to him, his vision is primarily to key into the developmental agenda of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, while also introducing people-focused initiatives aimed at making Nnewi South more prosperous and livable.
Ochuba added that while he was overwhelmed by the outcome, he was not entirely surprised, as, according to him, the exercise was a referendum on his loyalty and service to the party. He assured stakeholders that he would not take their support for granted, and promised to justify the confidence reposed in him if eventually given the party’s ticket.
While assuring his co-contestants that they were all winners, the Unubi-born public servant, Ochuba, concluded by appreciating party leaders at the national, state, local government and ward levels for ensuring a transparent process, even as he called for sustained unity as the party moves into the next phase of the electoral process.
More photos from the event:
