By: Felix Ikpotor
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has concluded its primary election for 13 Federal Constituencies in Rivers State with Dum Dekor, current House Committee Chairman on Host Communities and Martin Chike Amarwhule, speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and eleven others emerging as candidates of the party in their constituencies.
Out of the 13 candidates declared, 6 are returning members while 7 are first-timers aiming to be members of the nation’s Green Chambers.
Chairman of the primary election committee for Rivers State, Wahab Owokoniran who declared the results Saturday night at the party Secretariat in Port Harcourt, noted that the elections were peaceful in all the 13 federal constituencies. He expressed surprise that contrary to the negative inpression of violence in Rivers State, the election went on without any recorded incidence.
He congratulated members of the party and people of the state for their peaceful conduct, urging them to carry on into the general elections proper.
”So far we have declared 13 out of 13 Federal Constituency results and I want to let the whole world know that the election was conducted in a very peaceful atmosphere. We did not experience any form of rancour or fighting whatsoever.
” Contrary to the impression out there that Rivers State is very violent, but surprisingly, I myself was disappointed that there wasn’t any form of violence, so congratulations to the Rivers people and especially members of APC, we are so proud of the way you have conducted yourselves and hope that you will carry on into the general election and by the grace of God, our party will deliver Rivers State at both presidential, senatorial, governorship and house of assembly elections,” he said.
Those declared as party candidates are; Solomon Bob (Abua-Odual/Ahoada East) , Victor Obuzor (Ahoada West/Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni), Isobo Jack (Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru), Frederick Apiafi (Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro), Cyril Hart (Degema/Bonny) and Felix Nwaeke (Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo).
Others are; Dum Dekor (Khana/Gokana), Martin Chike Amaewhule (Obio/Akpor), Linda Somieari Stewart (Okrika/Ogu/Bolo), Blessing Chigeru Amadi (PHALGA 2) and Igwe Precious (PHALGA 1).
The party also declared Ozuzum Chibuzor Nwamaka as winner for Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency and Onyeozu Joy Nyebuchi for Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency.
Reacting to the results, Publicity Secretary of the APC in the state, Chibuike Ikenga said the result of the primary elections is a reflection of the will of members of the party.
”Some of you who went to the field with us saw that it was fair, free, and credible. We gave our party members opportunity to express themselves, and that’s the result you have seen here today,” Ikenga said.
The party spokesman adviced winners to be magnanimous in victory and to prepare ahead of the general election, while urging those who were not successful in the current election to prepare themselves for subsequent polls.
