By Chijindu Emeruwa.
The former Abia Chairman of the African Democratic Party, ADC, in Abia State, Don Norman Obinna, has taken a swipe at the Gubernatorial Candidate of the party, Bishop Samuel Onuoha, insisting that party’s standard-bearer lacked the requisite capacity to lead ADC to victory in next year general elections.
He was speaking on the backdrops of the recent decision of the party to field the christian cleric for the March 2023 gubernatorial election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Abia state.
Recall that Bishop Sunday Ndukwo Onuoha had emerged the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Party after a keenly-contested and concluded primary election held in June 2022 in Umuahia, the state capital.
Mr Nkem Ukandu, the INEC returning officer, announced that Sunday Onuoha scored 330 vote cast to defeat his close rival, Otisi Ebitu-Ukiwe who polled a total 160 votes.
His words: “This is the official report from the Publicity Department of Abia State ADC for our 2023 Gubernatorial Primaries.
“After accreditation and result compilation by the LOC Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and the INEC returning Officer Mr. Nkem Ukandu, we had a total of 510 votes. Number of Void Votes 20.
“Otisi Ebitu Ukiwe polled total votes 160 Votes, while Bishop Sunday Ndukwo Onuoha scored total votes
330 Votes
“And hence, by the power invested on him as the returning officer of the process by INEC, Mr. Nkem Ukandu declared Bishop Sunday Ndukwo Onuoha as the gubernatorial candidate of ADC for the 2023 elections”.
The outcome of the concluded gubernatorial primary election was characterized by mixed reactions and strong opposition by the party delegates, and the immediate past State chairman of the ADC, Mr Don Norman Obinna.
However, the ex-Abia Chairman of the party, Don Norman Obinna, while stating his position ahead of the main general elections in 2023, described the ADC governorship standard-bearer as a political lightweight and mole planted by a former Abia Governor, Senator Theodore Orji, and ruling Peoples Democratic Party to destroy the party in Abia state.
He called on the electorates in the state to reject Bishop Sunday Onuoha who he further opined lacked followers, and as well as the needed capacity to win elections and address myriads of challenges bedeviling the state.
According to Obinna, “Abia guber candidates and the electorates shouldn’t take Sunday Onuoha seriously.
“He is a mole planted by Senator Theodore Orji (Ochendo) to destroy the ADC.
“No one should accept his offer to step down. He had no followers or structure to threaten anyone. Don’t give him money”.
Bishop Sunday Onuoha will battle the Abia 2023 governorship seat election with the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party,(PDP), Professor Uche Ikonne, All Progressives Congress, APC,rd Dr Uche Sampson Ogah, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Professor Greg Ibe, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Apostle Ngozika Gladys Johnson-Ogbuneke, Accord Party (AP), Ambassador Bishop Emeka Nwankpa, and rest of others.
