…as groups felicitate with the winner

Cyril Ogar,  in Ogoja The former commissioner for New Cities Development, Mr. Mike Usibe, has picked the Peoples Democratic Party House of Representatives by-election ticket for Ogoja/Yala federal constituency bye-election scheduled for February 26, 2022. Usibe defeated two other contestants as follows.

Usibe scored 184 votes to beat his closest challenger Godwin Offiono scored 45 votes and Mrs. Magaret Odey got 5 votes,  there was 1 invalid vote. The primaries took place at Ogoja Recreation Club in Ogoja local government area, in Cross River northern senatorial district of the state on Thursday.

Declaring Usibe the winner, the chairman of the Primary Electoral Panel, Alh Hasan Yakubu, averred that a total of 235 votes were cast with one invalid.INEC monitoring team from Abuja who observed the primary, and members of PDP congress committee observed the process which had large delegates turn out yesterday said the exercise was “conducted in line with INEC guidelines and was, therefore, satisfactory.

The presiding officer  and chairman of the Primary Electoral Panel, Alh Hasan Yakubu, described the process as peaceful and orderly, as he declared Usibe as the winner of the primary election having scored the highest number of votes.“Based on the power conferred on me as Returning officer, I hereby declare Mike Usibe as the winner of this primary election.“It is a novelty exercise and in every contest, there must be a winner and a loser as God gives power.

I enjoin other contestants who lost out to take it in good fate.“PDP is not a personal estate, it belongs to all of us. I appeal to all to lay down arms and plead with the winner to carry others along.

In his post-election speech, the PDP Candidate Usibe stated,” I commend all the stakeholders including the delegates, fellow contestants and everyone who played a part in my emergence. I personally call on the contestants to come and let’s work together to deliver the party on Saturday, February 26 by-election.”

In his reaction to Usibe’s Victory, PDP state party chairman, Barr Vena Ikem, Esq, who was excited with the outcome of the poll, charged the PDP to work at all times as a one united and formidable family ahead of the 2023 general where the party shall return to power at all levels.

“It has been an intensive exercise and I promise that the party would bring everybody who took part in the contest to an around the table and see how they can work to deliver the party.

“I love the fighting spirit we witnessed at the beginning of the exercise. That is the spirit of an opposition party ready to win an election. We promise to deliver our candidate.”

While lauding Usibe for the stride, the only female aspirant and a party Chieftain, Mrs. Magaret Odey said:” I see the exercise as free and fair and pledged to resolve every difference for the interest of all of us. We are one PDP family and we look forward to working together to deliver the party.”

Also, Offiono Godwin stated:” I congratulate Usibe and ask the electoral panel to ensure every party has a copy of the result.”Meanwhile, the Ogoja youth forum has congratulated Hon Usibe on his resounding victory at the PDP primary. in a similar vein, Ukelle National Development Forum and other critical stakeholders have congratulated Rt Hon Usibe on his victory at the PDP Reps By-election primary.

In a congratulatory message signed by Barr. Alex Edim on behalf of the chairman Mr. Festus Ekwok made available to Aljazirah News, expresses support to the candidature of Hon Mike Usibe saying that the people’s will has prevailed assuring him of victory come 26th during the main election.

The read in part, “Ukelle national Development forum (UNDF) Abuja chapter, I wish to express our deepest congratulations to the capacity Mike Usibe, on your victory at the just concluded Ogoja/Yala federal constituency bye-election primaries of the PDP, held on Thursday the 3rd day of February  2022, at Ogoja.

Your victory is a practical demonstration of the will of God and the affirmation of the people’s mandate and desire for good governance as epitomized by the exemplary leadership you have shown over time.

They however called on the losers especially his main challenger Offiono Godwin to accept Usibe’s victory as an act of God and work together to ensure the victory of the party at the main election.

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us

Share

Share

Share

Share

Share