The godson of Nigeria’s Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Obasi Ogbonnaya Obasi, has lost the All Progressives Congress gubernatorial primary in Ebonyi State.
The godson, who also hails from the Minister’s community, Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the State, lost the ticket to the serving senator representing Ebonyi South Senatorial District, Sonny Ogbuoji.
Others beaten by the senator to clinch the APC gubernatorial ticket included a former Commissioner for Works and Transport under Governor Martin Elechi, Engr. Paul Okorie; a former member of the House of Representatives, who represented Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo Federal Constituency between 1999 and 2003, Kelechi Chima; and a former Secretary to State Government in the Governor David Umahi Administration, who recently resigned his appointment to join the party.
Ogbuoji also defeated Edward Nkwegu, who contested the 2015 governorship election against Umahi on the platform of the Labour Party, as well as two other contestants: Austin Edeze and Comrade Christian Chukwu.
Ogbuoji who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, scored 785 votes to beat the eight other contestants.
He was followed by Prof. Bernard Odoh, who scored 519 votes and Nkwegu, who got 395 votes in the congress, which lasted for two days.
Meanwhile Obasi, who was alleged to have been anointed and sponsored by the Minister of Science and Technology, came fourth with 182 votes.
With the development, it has become clear that the battle for Ebonyi State Government house, come next year would principally be between Ogbuoji of APC and Umahi of the Peoples Democratic Party, who has been returned as sole candidate by his party.
The election, which was held at the Pinnacle Hotel, Abakaliki, however, exposed the gross factionalism existing in the Ebonyi State APC as most of the contestants alleged that the delegates lists were manipulated to favour a particular faction in the battle for supremacy, which had been the trademark of the party in the State.
Although serious disagreements initially ensued, which tended to mar the exercise, order later returned following the intervention of security agencies and some prominent stakeholders of the party.
The Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Senator Obende Domigo, while declaring the result, commended the delegates and the nine aspirants for the way and manner they conducted themselves and enjoined those that lost out in the contest to join hands with the flag bearer for the success of the party in the 2019 election.
Domigo said: “First, l want to salute the contestants for their cool headedness, who have also shown the spirit of sportsmanship.
“I must confess that when we were coming here, we were told that Ebonyi is very volatile and we made up our mind that we were going to do the right thing because I believe where the truth is, that is where God lives.
“Without sounding immodest, I believe we have conducted ourselves to the best of our knowledge and ability of being credible to a primary where a looser places it a do or die affair.
“l also want to salute the leadership of APC that have provided the needed leadership to be able to achieve what we have achieved today both the federal and the state.
“By this result, I am happy to declare senator Sonny Ogbuoji winner of this contest.
“I want clearly emphasis that all the contestants have shown greater capacity in the areas of their strength and I want to urge them to cooperate with one another so that Ebonyi will be for APC.”
Our correspondent sought the opinion of some APC stalwarts in the State, who spoke on condition of anonymity, reports that the majority described the development as a huge slight on the Minister.
They alleged that the outcome was indicative of the fact that the Minister’s fame was gradually waning in the political theatre of the State, adding that such should not be considering his long steadfastness and tremendous contributions to bringing the party to its current status.