The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Ebonyi has conducted fresh primary election for the replacement of Blessing Egbed, who withdrew from the race for Ebonyi South senatorial seat ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Ms Egbed is now replaced by Ifeanyi Eleje, currently the president of the Government Secondary School, Afikpo, Old Boys Association Worldwide.

Ms Egbed, who was elected in May as APGA’s candidate, voluntarily withdrew from the race in the party.

“My withdrawal from the race was to enable the party to balance the power equation to accommodate other parts of the state to ensure victory at the polls,” Ms Egbed said.

APGA’s Ebonyi gubernatorial candidate, Benard Odoh, while addressing journalists described the new primary election as a welcome development to move the party forward.

“The conduct has gone smoothly, no cumbersome process because we were not in contention but for replacement. Somebody has withdrawn and somebody is being replaced. We have two other persons who have also withdrawn and two people who will replace them but we will respect their privacy at the edge and allow the party to do the needful,” he explained.

Mr Odoh added, “The key most important is that we have successively received the letters of those who have withdrawn and the party will be communicated accordingly.”

APGA chairman in Ebonyi, Ricky Okorouka, said the primary election was a directive from the party’s hierarchy and INEC.

(NAN)