Rt. Hon. Toby Okechukwu, member representing Awgu, Aninri, Oji River Federal Constituency beats Deputy Senate President Sen. Ike Ekweremadu’s younger brother – Rt. Hon. Matthias Ekweremadu, the current Chief Whip of Enugu State House of Assembly and Hon. Okey Ibeabuchi at the just concluded PDP House of Representatives primary election. It was a power tussle as Hon. Ekweremadu from Aniniri LGA and Ibeabuchi from Oji River LGA both had a massive support that threatened the chances of the emergence of Rt. Hon. Okechukwu from Awgu LGA.
In attendance were the Council Chairmen of three local government areas of the federal constituency, namely Awgu, Aninri and Oji River; Chairmen of PDP Awgu, Aninri, Oji River Local Governments Areas; councilors of various wards; PDP women leaders; youth leaders; PDP ward chairmen; PDP delegates; INEC officials, to mention but a few.
The election which was scheduled for Wednesday 3rd of October 2018 was shifted to Thursday 4th October due to delay in the arrival of election materials. In an interview with Hon. Frank Anioma an INEC official who disclosed to Leadership SCORECARD that the failure to provide electoral materials on time was the reason for the delay of the election which was rescheduled for Thursday 4th of October 2018 to the dismay of the delegates and everyone present.
Despite the hullaballoo, delay and wavering confidence, Rt. Hon. Toby Okechukwu emerged victoriously scoring 325 votes out of a total of 461 votes cast. There was jubilation amongst majority of the delegates and supporters as Okechukwu defeated his opponents against all odds, he stood tall proving to be a worthy leader who enjoys the support of his people based on his exceptional representation.
Hon. Stanley Okeke, the council chairman of Awgu LGA in a brief interview with Leadership Scorecard shortly after the primary election, first of all he thanked Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the governor of Enugu State for providing the enabling environment and peaceful atmosphere for the party primaries in the state. He stated that he was confident of Rt. Hon. Okechukwu’s victory because he is a man of the people. According to him “… Rt. Hon. Okechukwu’s victory is the reflection of the peoples’ will. When asked if the victory gotten at the primaries can replicate itself at the general elections come 2019, he responded that “the primaries for us was the real contest, the general election come 2019 will be a walk over.”
Leadership Scorecard also gathered that Matthias Ekweremadu’s failed plot to unseat Rt. Hon. Okechukwu did not go down well with certain quarters in Awgu, owing to the fact that Rt. Hon. Okechukwu and Sen. Ike Ekweremadu have a longstanding bond of political affinity, but Rt. Hon. Okechukwu in an interview with Leadership Scorecard quickly dismissed such divisive comments as reactions from animated supporters who fail to understand that party primaries is the bond of internal democracy; he said “… party primaries is a family affair, it is a victory for the party not an individual.” He continued “… Sen. Ike Ekweremadu remains my leader, our relationship remains cordial”. He thanked the governor of Enugu State Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for providing a stable leadership at the state level. He went further and appreciated Matthias Ekweremadu and Okey Ibeabuchi for demonstrating spirit of sportsmanship in the contest by accepting the outcome of the election. He said “… contest is the beauty of democracy, and in every contest a winner will surely emerged.” He return all glory to God, commend his supporters for the comradeship and promised to continue representing the good people of Awgu, Aninri and Oji River Federal Constituency in the best of his ability.
