From Victor Osula, Abuja
The death of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abia state, Professor Prof Eleazar Uchenna Ikonne on Wednesday at the National Hospital in Abuja has thrown the contest open for other contestants whom he defeated at the party’s primary on May 25, 2022.
This is so because the provisions of Sections 33 and 34 of the Electoral Act 2022 says that all the aspirants are eligible to contest a fresh primary to be conducted in the next 14 days: in effect, latest 8 March.
Section 33 says: “A political party shall not be allowed to change or substitute its candidate whose name has been submitted under Section 29 of this Act, except in the case of death or withdrawal by the candidate: Provided that in the case of such withdrawal or death of a candidate, the political party affected shall, within 14 days of the occurrence of the event, hold a fresh primary election to produce and submit a fresh candidate to the Commission for the election concerned”.
The aspirants are Mayor Lucky Igbokwe and Mrs Ezenwanyi Jonah. Others are the Deputy Governor Ude Oko Chukwu. Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe and Senator Emma Nwaka who had withdrawn from the earlier contest on the grounds that the party broke due process to favour late Ikonne.
Ikonne, the former Vice Chancellor of Abia State University had emerged the candidate of the PDP after he secured 468 out of 536 votes to defeat his closest rival, Igbokwe who had 45 votes and Mrs Jonah who got five votes.
Former Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose had announced six votes for Chukwu; five votes each for Abaribe, who had defected to the All Progressives Grand Alliance; and Chief Sampson Orji; four votes each for Nana Nwafor and Nwaka; Chief Ncheta Omerekpe secured three votes; and two votes for Prof. Gregory Ibe, who had also joined APGA.
Announcing the death of Ikonne on Wednesday, his son, Dr Uche-Ikonne Chikezie, said, “the death of my dear father, Prof Eleazar Uchenna Ikonne, who died at the National Hospital Abuja today, 25th January 2023 by 4am after a brief illness.
“He was recovering after taking proper treatment in the United Kingdom but relapsed a few days ago leading to multiple cardiac arrests for which he didn’t recover from.
“Further details and arrangements would be made known to the public after deliberations and meetings are made within the family.”
