The Senate’s Vice Chairman on Appropriation, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji, has emerged as the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general elections.
After the keenly contested primaries which featured nine aspirants, Sen. Ogbuoji, who represents Ebonyi South in the Red champer, gathered 785 votes to defeat the alleged anointed godson (Hon. Obasi Obasi) of Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu who came fourth with 182 votes.
Hon. Obasi is currently the personal assistant to the minister.
Sen. Ogbuoji was followed by Prof. Bernard Odoh who had 519 votes while Dr. Edward Nkwegu took the third position with 395 votes.
Sen. Ogbuoji will face Governor David Umahi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who was returned unopposed in the forthcoming gubernatorial race in the state.
Declaring the result at Pinnacle Hotel on Monday, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Sen. Obende Domigo, described the election as free and fair.
Domigo commended the delegates and the nine aspirants for the manners they conducted themselves during the two-day exercise.
He enjoined the losers to join hands with the APC gubernatorial candidate to win the state.
“First, l want to salute the contestants for their show of sportsmanship, having conducted themselves lawfully and l also want to thank the leadership of the state party.
“On this note therefore, as the chairman of the national electoral panel APC Ebonyi state governorship primaries, I hereby declare Sen. Sonni Ogbuoji winner having score the highest number of votes cast. He scored 785 votes.
“He was followed by Prof. Barnard Odoh who scored 519 votes,” he said .
The result at the end of counting was announced at about 8:30pm today.
In his acceptance speech, Sen. Ogbuoji said the victory was for the entire state and not for him alone.
He promised to carry along those who lost in the primaries, adding that what is most paramount is for APC to unseat Governor Umahi during the poll.
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