Abia gov’ship: PDP runner-up asks INEC to restrict re-run to aspirants in first primary

The runner-up in the first Abia governorship primary election, PDP’s Mayor Lucky Igbokwe, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to halt the decision of a few members of the party to micro-zone the next governorship candidate of the party to Isiala Ngwa North LGA.

INEC had directed PDP to conduct a fresh primary within 14 days to replace its late governorship candidate in Abia, Prof Eleazar Uche Ikonne, who died on January 25.

Igbokwe, in a statement on his behalf by Abraham Amah, Abia PDP vice chairman, alleged that following INEC’s directive, some party chieftains met and zoned the ticket to Isiala Ngwa North, the LGA of the late Prof UcheIkonne.

Igbokwe noted that it was wrong to exclude those who participated in the first primary while admitting fresh people in the re-run.

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He said the decision ran against the intention of the electoral law and the instruction of INEC that the election should be conducted in 14 days.

Igbokwe said, “Rather than follow due process by conducting a fresh primary as INEC instructed, the governor has handpicked a number of people to choose one of his lackeys to cover his tracks in a sham primary just like he did in the last primary where there was no ad hoc election in the choice of delegates.

“All those who participated during the first primary must not be excluded in the party decision making process on a re-run.”