PDP Primaries: 17 Abia Incumbent Lawmakers Fail To Get Return Tickets

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News From The State, Nigeria 2015 Election, Politics Thursday, December 4th, 2014

IGNATIUS OKPARA, Umuahia

Seventeen incumbent members of the Abia State House of Assembly failed to clinch their return tickets at the primaries of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

African Examiner gathered that out of the 24 members of the state legislature, only seven of the incumbents won their primaries.

The Abia state PDP Chairman, Senator Emma Nwanka, made this announcement Wednesday evening at the party’s Secretariat in Umuahia.

He however, appealed to those who lost the ticket not to attempt to decamp to other parties in protest.

Nwanka advised them to rather channel their grievances through the appeal panel, instead of dumping the party for another, because “those who switch party randomly have always come to grief.

The result announced by the chairman, indicates that the new comers that succeeded includes, the son of Governor, Theodore Orji, Chinedum, who clinched the ticket for Umuahia Central constituency; Chukwudi Apugo, Umuahia East; Ex-chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Cosmos Ndukwe, Bende North; and Chima Mgbeke, Umunneochi state constituency.

The incumbents who made it are, Hon. Chukwudi Ogele, Isuikwuato; Emeka Ejiogu, Umuahia North; Dr. Kate Maduako, Aba Central; and the widow of late Iheasimuo, Blessing Iheasimuo for Aba South.

African Examiner reliably learnt that some of the aggrieved aspirants have vowed not to accept the result of the primaries, just as they are already making moves to defect to opposition parties.

Nwanka, who explained why the result was released late, said the delay was not deliberate as the secretariat had been so busy with preparations for the up-coming primaries for other political offices.