A former Minister Of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, has emerged the gubernatorial candidate of the United Progressives Party (UPP) in Anambra.
Chidoka beat his opponent, Chief Chudi Offodile in the primary congress held in Awka on Saturday.
Announcing the result, the Chairman of UPP National Congress Committee, Chris Uche, said Chidoka polled 1,222 votes against 87 polled by Offodile from total 1,309 valid votes cast.
Uche, who is deputy Chairman of the Party (South) described the exercise as transparent and successful.
“Based on this figures from this transparent exercise held before all of you here, we declare Chief Osita Chidoka winner and return him as the gubernatorial candidate of UPP in the Nov. 18 election in Anambra,’’ he said.
Uche, however, announced that Offodile withdrew from the primary election before voting commenced.
“And to put it in a simple way, Offodile withdrew this morning even when he was with us last night and earlier today,’’ he said.
In his acceptance speech, Chidoka lauded the members of the party for believing in him, while promising to make UPP the ruling party in Anambra in the next administration.
He called every member of the party to eschew bitterness and join hands with him in the task ahead.
“I most sincerely thank members our great party, delegates, primary committee and all the officials.
“I am extending hands of fellowship to everybody, including those that pulled out in the last minute; I am calling on them to join hands in the task of election.
“Democracy is all about dialogue and negotiation, but as you can see 1,400 delegates out of 1, 630 coming to be accredited shows that the election has been very successful.
“Our members at the grassroots are united in one accord to nominate a candidate truly represent the party and give it the opportunity to form the next government in Anambra,’’ he said.
