Tobias Sylvester
An oil mogul, Dr Peter Mbah has emerged as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 governorship election in Enugu State.
Peter Mbah Enugu Guber
Mba, a former Enugu State Commissioner for France, defeated eight other aspirants after eight withdrew from the PDP primary election with a total of 790 votes.
After the withdrawal of about 12 aspirants from the race, only five aspirants participated in the exercise held on Wednesday, May 25, at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu.
Some of those who withdrew from the race include the former deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu; former senator representing Enugu East District, Gilbert Nnaji; former chairman of the Enugu State Development Authority, Josef Onoh, and businessman Evarest Nnaji, among others.
A total of 812 delegates were accredited for the exercise. Out of the 807 total votes cast, 804 were valid and three rendered invalid. The result was announced by the chairman of the electoral panel appointed by the National Working Committee of the PDP, Sunday Ambuno.
In his victory speech, Mbah promised to serve the people with humility and forthrightness adding that he would consolidate on the achievement of the incumbent Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
“I want to promise you that I will serve you with humility and moderation. We are going to serve you with openness and inclusiveness. We will also serve you with simplicity and forthrightness,” he said.
He thanked his co-contestants and Governor Ugwuanyi for making the feat possible, saying his election was an affirmation of the founding principle of the PDP.
The elected candidate was full of praise for Governor Ugwuanyi for entrenching democracy in the party, describing the governor as “a believer of democracy.”
He commended the aspirants who withdrew from the exercise to support his ambition urging them to join forces together to move the party forward.
The legal practitioner also enjoined the delegates and other party faithful to replicate their support in the general elections to ensure victory for the party in the state.
Peter Mbah will be the flag bearer of the party in the state during the governorship election billed to hold on March 11, 2023.
Meanwhile, former Vice-Chancellor of Abia State University, Professor Uche Ikonne has won the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 general elections.
