By Ruth Oginyi
Mr. Tochukwu Okorie has emerged as the new chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Ebonyi State chapter on Saturday during the party-state congress held in Abakaliki.
He was elected alongside other members of the State Working Committee (SWC) to pilot the affairs of the party in Ebonyi for the next four years.
Other Excos include Hon. James Alaka Organising Secretary, Nwoba Chika Nwoba declared Publicity Secretary while Comr. Exodus Peters was confirmed the Youth Leader of PDP in Ebonyi State there was immediately sworn into their various offices.
Correspondent reports that the congress held at the people’s club started with accreditation of voters who were drawn from the 171 wards in the state amidst a peaceful atmosphere.
Chairman of the electoral panel, for the state Congress Sen. Ben-Collins Obi, while announcing the results urged the winners to ensure that aggrieved members are reconciled as their victory is for all.
According to him, there is no winner and there is no loser in the contest.
He noted that for PDP to reclaim its mandate in the state, it must work in unity and love.
He said “It is a great honor to be asked to chair this panel. Every successful beginning must have an end, the battle has been won and lost.
“But, in our party as a family, nobody lost. But, in a contest, somebody is bound to be angry. I urge winners to show magnanimity in victory.
“Create an opportunity for reconciliation; bring them on board because in unity we stand, we need them to win the election and this is my appeal,” Obi said.
He further said, ” that a total of 1510 delegates were accredited to vote in Congress. That Mr. Tochukwu Okorie polled a total of 1240 to emerge the winner while Mr. Silas Onu scored 260 votes to come second, 8 votes were void.
“The deputy chairman scored 1502, the secretary polled 1502 while eight invalid votes were recorded.
“I wish to felicitate the elected officials, our party members, our party leaders, and panel members for the successful conduct of the congress,” Obi added.
The newly elected state Executive committee was immediately inaugurated and charged to work toward reconciling the aggrieved members.
The chairman elects Tobechukwu Okorie, in his post-inaugural speech promised to galvanize the party for victory in 2023 and commended the party leadership for free, fair, and transparent exercise.
“We shall work to ensure that we build a strong PDP that will spur the party to victory in the state in 2023.
“We have an internal dispute resolution mechanism which we shall apply to reconcile aggrieved members,” Okorie said.
Meanwhile, Barr Silas Onu one of the Chairmanship Aspirants who was former Publicity Secretary of the party, Silas Onu said expressed foul play in the Congress and said he will challenge the outcome of the Congress in the court
He alleged that he was not given a level playground at the exercise even when he was the legitimate aspirant to standing for the congress.
Onu described the congress as undemocratic.
Also, a former Senator and former Commissioner for Information, Senator Emmanuel Onwe, in his submission faulted come of congress.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC), held its congress at the Abakaliki Township Stadium.
The APC congress was generally peaceful without a report of violence or parallel congress.
The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha was elected the Chairman of the party unopposed alongside other members of the state executive committee.//