Breaking: Aba North/South Fed. Constituency Bye-election: Hon. Destiny emerges APGA flag bearer

The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for Aba North State Constituency in 2019, Hon. Destiny Nwagwu on Tuesday emerged the flag bearer of the party in the March 27 bye-election of Aba North/South Federal Constituency.

Hon. Nwagwu polled 616 votes to defeat Hon. Obinna Ichita who got 16 votes even after he had earlier today (Tuesday) announced his withdrawal from the party’s primary that held at Hotel De La Pax premises in Aba North LGA.

Engr. Nwadiogbu Nnamdi, the electoral committee chairman while declaring the result said total number of accredited voters in the two LGAs is 658 (Aba South 317and Aba North 341 respectively.

According to Engr. Nnamdi, Hon. Nwagwu polled 616 while Hon. Ichita polled 16 votes as 26 persons couldn’t vote.

In an interview, Engr. Uchenna Okogbue, APGA’s Deputy National Chairman said “You have seen that Aba residents came out in their numbers to support APGA primary which is the most credible and transparent primary election ever conducted in Nigeria.

“When we started this process people were so apprehensive of what it is going to be, but the National Working Committee led by Ike Oye agreed that it is going to be very transparent. We decided that it is the people that will decide who is going to fly the flag of APGA. That was why we never favoured any candidate. And we are not in the position to do that.

“I am happy that there was no rancor in any form today. The power of APGA is going to queue behind the outcome of today’s primary. The National chairman is on his way to Abia and any moment from now, we will be having a meeting to start planning towards the coming election.

“Aba is very important to APGA and we are not afraid of what is going to happen here because Aba residents are for APGA.

“We are not afraid of winning this election. We know that APC doesn’t have the muscle to win the election. PDP in the state has been in power in the state for more than 20years and we know that they have not been able to make any impact and have nothing to show for the number of years that they have been n power. It is when the campaign starts, that you will know what APGA is capable of doing.

“APGA cannot be worried so long as it is Aba. Unscrupulous politicians in the state are the people behind the decision of INEC. In the history of politics in Nigeria, there has never been anywhere an election is conducted less than90 days the lawmaker’s seat was declared vacant. There plan is to ensure that the election holds before the burial of Prestige because they think that if they waited for Prestige to be buried, that the sentiment will be more.

“But they didn’t know that the sentiment will be more because in the whole Nigeria, there has never been any time where the body of a lawmaker is still in the mortuary and election is being held to replace the deceased lawmaker, that where our sentiment goes higher. You know that Prestige is still alive in the hearts of Aba residents because he worked and impacted on the people.”

Speaking after his declaration, Nwagwu who called on Hon. Ichita whom he described as his friend and brother said “I am very happy that my party members have unanimously elected me to fly the flag of the party in the Aba North and South Federal Constituency bye-election coming up on March 27.

“The people should expect continuity in the Federal House. Ossy Prestige has done enough for the people of Aba North and South and I will consolidate on what he has done already.

“I am not jittery to face any of the candidates from the opposing political parties because Aba is APGA and APGA is Aba. APGA is on ground in Aba.

“I have no fear. I am confident that we are going to win in this election, landslide. Remember that this is bye-election. All eyes are on this election. I am urging people to come out on March 27 to vote for APGA. I am assuring them, that we will defend their votes.”