A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has emerged the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in November 6 Governorship election in Anambra State.
Professor Soludo scored a total of 740 votes out of 792 valid votes cast by delegates on Wednesday.
Declaring the results of the exercise, the Returning Officer, Samson Olalere said Professor Soludo fulfilled the provisions of Electoral Act and APGA guidelines.
Olalere said he beat his rivals, Rep Okwudili Ezenwakwo, Damian Okolo and Thankgod Ibeh who scored 41, 7 and 4 votes respectively.
He said; ”a total of 812 delegates were registered out of which 795 accredited and 792 voted.”
The returning officer issued the APGA candidate Certificate of Return after Governor Willie Obiano and raised up Professor Soludo’s hand as the duly elected candidate of the party in the forthcoming election.
Governor Obiano congratulated him for the victory and called on party faithful to continue to support the party.
In his acceptance speech, Professor Soludo said he was humbled by the overwhelming votes with which he emerged.
He thanked his co-contestants for their gallantry while extending an olive branch to them, stressing that ”APGA is a big house with enough rooms to accommodate everyone.”
The former CBN boss promised to build on the success of past administrations in the state if he eventually becomes the elected Governor in November.
Professor Soludo thanked Governor Obiano for his leadership style and Dr Victor Oye, the National Chairman of APGA under whom the party had grown to be the third strongest party in Nigeria.
In a reaction, a chieftain of APGA, Neville Uchendu said that the outcome of APGA primary was a tip of the iceberg on what would happen during November 6 election.
Uchendu said; “Professor Soludo is greatly loved by the Anambra people and they will massively vote for him during the election.”
Delegates for the election had assembled at the popular Alex Ekwueme Square Awka, for accreditation before proceeding to Professor Dora Akunyuli Women Development Centre.
NAN