The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State held an election on Wednesday, August 14, for the selection of chairmanship candidates for the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs).

Local council elections in the state are scheduled for October 2024.

Ahead of the election events, PDP has also chosen its councillorship candidates for the 260 electoral wards across the state.

The Wednesday event saw a significant turnout of party delegates and stakeholders from the 17 LGAs, with most candidates emerging victorious after weeks of consensus-building leading up to the elections.

Many aspirants expressed their support for the chosen candidates, encouraging their followers to cast their votes for them.

Notably, only two former council chairmen, Hon. Okechukwu Edeh from Nkanu East LGA and Hon. Obiora Obeagu from Isi-Uzo LGA, were re-selected as the party’s candidates for the upcoming council elections.

In the primary election for the party chairmanship held in Amagunze, Nkanu East LGA, Hon. Okechukwu received unanimous support, securing all 42 votes cast by the delegates. Similarly, Hon. Obeagu achieved victory in Ikem, Isi-Uzo LGA, by garnering all 33 votes from the party delegates.

Other notable winners include Beloved Dan Anike (Enugu East), Jude Asogwa (Nsukka), Caleb Ani (Enugu South), Ibenaku Onoh (Enugu North), John Ogbodo (Nkanu West), Ugochukwu Nwanjoku (Aninri), Uche Okolo (Awgu), Vita Ndu (Ezeagu), and Gregory Anyaegbudike (Oji River).

Additionally, Hyginus Agu (Udi), Michael Ogala (Igboeze North), Ferdinand Ukwueze (Igboeze South), Aka Eze Aka (Udenu), Eric Odo (Igbo Etiti), and Chijioke Ezugwu (Uzo Uwani) also emerged victorious in their respective local government areas.

During their acceptance speeches at Amagunze and Ikem, Okechukwu Edeh and Obiora Obeagu expressed gratitude to party members for their trust, promising to intensify their efforts to support Governor Mbah’s numerous rural development initiatives in the state, should their constituents elect them in October.

“To whom much is given, much is also expected. Let us go to our wards and work hard in our campaigns to win. Let me assure the people of Nkanu East that my running mate, Paul Okwor, and I are ready and recharged to serve,” Edeh said.

In his congratulatory message, Governor Peter Mbah, expressed satisfaction with the reports of the peaceful, free, fair, and credible process he received about the exercise across the state.

“This is what our party is known for. Again, the good people of Enugu State would agree with us that our party members made the best decisions, given the quality of candidates that will be flying the party’s flag because they have what it takes to drive our disruptive and innovative development programmes at the grassroots,” Mbah stated.

Also, the Member representing Nkanu East State Constituency, Hon. Okey Mbah; the Commissioner for Children, Gender, and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih; the PDP state Youth Leader, Hon. Patrick Okoh; the Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission, Prince Arinze Arum; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Legislative Matters, Hon. Paul Nnajiofor; and stakeholder Prince Ifeanyi Onuora, who were present at the event in Amagunze, praised the primary election in Nkanu East.

They expressed their belief that the PDP would succeed in the upcoming elections, citing the candidate’s track record and the significant achievements of the governor throughout the state.

In a related note, the Chairman of the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC), Prof. Chris Ngwu, who monitored the proceedings in Amagunze, Nkanu East, characterized the election as “credible, free, and fair.”

He emphasized that under his leadership, ENSIEC is committed to providing an equitable environment for all political parties.