Mark, Ekweremadu, Clinch Tickets …Sekibo Wins In Rivers East …Senate Leader Drops

Senate President David Mark and Benue strate Governor Gabriel Suswam yesterday picked tickets to represent the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2015 senatorial election in Benue State.
Mark picked the ticket to contest the 2015 poll in his bid to return to the Senate for a record fifth time after his opponent, Chief Mike Onoja, withdrew from the race.
Incumbent senator and former National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Barnabas Gemade, withdrew from the race to return to the National Assembly, allowing Suswam to pick the senatorial slot.
In Cross Rivers State, Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba’s bid for a fourth term failed as he lost the Cross Rivers Central Zone primaries to Hon. John Owaa-Enoh of the House of Representatives who had 217 votes to Ndoma-Egba’s 37. Also, Senator Enyinaya Abaribe had 169 votes to defend Princewill Ojeh who had 2 votes to win the PDP ticket for Abia South Senatorial Zone.
Also, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu got overwhelming mandate to return to the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
Governor Chime, who purchased the PDP form to challenge Ekweremadu for the Enugu West Senatorial ticket, later withdrew from the race.
The primary election, which held at Awgu Local Government Area of the state, had a total number of 299 accredited delegates out of the 315 statutory delegates.
The Returning Officer, Mr. Innocent Agbo, accompanied by the Electoral Officer, Mr. Emma Ogbu had earlier announced that Ekweremadu was the only candidate for the election.
He, however, said that there must be actual voting in line with the party’s constitution. At the end of voting, Ekweremadu polled 294 votes. Five votes were declared invalid.
In his acceptance speech, the Senator described his victory as an act of God.He, however, dedicated his victory to Governor Chime, who he said made personal sacrifices for the return of peace in the party.
According to him, “this is the first time I am being returned unopposed despite all challenges, which means there is God in heaven; He acts when everything is impossible.I want to dedicate this victory to Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State; he equally made personal sacrifices to pave way for the peace we have today”.
On the PDP guber primary election coming up tomorrow, Monday, Ekweremadu urged his supporters to vote for Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who was earlier endorsed by Chime as the party’s consensus candidate.
He promised to attract more developmental projects to the people, job opportunities and a Federal Polytechnic.
He assured of their readiness to work for the success of the party in the polls.
Chairman of the council, Chief Albert Horsfall, said on Sunday that though the PDP in the state would conduct its governorship primary on Monday, he was optimistic that the national leadership of the party would do the right thing by zoning the governorship position to the river side area or Ogoni.
Senator George Sekibo was yesterday elected at the PDP senatorial primaries by delegates in Rivers East senatorial district to run for the seat for the third term.
Announcing the result of the election in Port Harcourt, the returning officer, Dr Fred Kpakol declared Sekibo winner with 406 votes out of the 407 accredited delegates.
In his acceptance speech, Sekibo thanked the delegates and promised to continue to render qualitative representation and service in the National Assembly.
He noted that he was being returned unopposed for the third time to contest for the seat stating that it was a mark of his constituents appreciation of his efforts to pursue and defend their interest in the senate.
Also speaking, Mr. kingsley Amadi, a delegate expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election as well as the result.
Another delegate, Mr Evans Bipi member of Rivers Assembly described the victory as the epitome of democracy.   He said that Sekibo’s victory was well deserved because he had performed very well.
The election was still on at Rivers West and South-East as at the time of filing this report where Chief Chibudom Nwuche, David Briggs and one other person were slugging it out. In the south-east it was a game between Chief Olaka Worgu and Mrs Georgina Tenalo.