Former legislator Mao Ohuabunwa on Wednesday emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Abia North senatorial district in the 2023 general elections.

Mr Ohuabunwa polled 135 votes to defeat his closest rival, Rep. Uko Nkole, who scored 29 votes.

Mr Ohuabunwa was a member of the Eighth Senate but lost his second term bid in 2019 to Orji Kalu, a former Abia governor.

Other contestants, including Mba Ajah and Igwe Orji, polled 10 and zero votes, respectively with one voided vote.

There were 175 accredited delegates from Arochukwu, Bende, Isuikwuato, Ohafia and Umunneochi local government areas that make up the district.

Mr Nkoli, who currently represents Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency, sought to move to the Senate.

The three-member ad hoc delegates election, which earlier took place at the Ohafia local government headquarters on Tuesday, ended in fiasco.

A free-for-all had erupted between supporters of the two contestants, over the alleged non-qualification of some delegates when Isuikwuato delegates were voting.

However, the chairman of the electoral committee, Silas Okafor, told journalists in Umuahia on Wednesday that the exercise was later concluded, in spite of the disruption.

“What happened was that during the vote counting, supporters of one of the aspirants tried to stop the process, when they noticed that their person was trailing behind,” explained Mr Okafor. “However, the process was successfully concluded and Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, who polled 135 votes, is declared winner.”

Meanwhile, Mr Ohuabunwa dedicated his victory to God and his constituents, promising not to disappoint them.

He stated this in a statement issued in Umuahia, urging his co-contestants to join him as members of one family. He promised to carry everyone along. 

(NAN)