Jubilation as Kalu wins Abia North senate seat
…. Beat opponents in own LGAs
From: Okey Sampson, Aba
There were wild jubilations across Abia state following last night’s declaration of the former governor of Abia state and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Abia North senatorial zone, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu as winner of last Saturday’s presidential and national assembly election.
According to the INEC Returning Officer for Abia North senatorial zone, Dr. Charles Anumudu, Kalu polled a total of 31,203 votes to defeat his closest rival and incumbent senator for the zone, Chief Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 20,801 votes to come second while the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Chief David Ogba (Bourdex) scored 11,410 to come third.
The most significant accept of the result was that Kalu beat his opponents, Ohuabunwa in his Arochukwu Local Government where he got 1,166 votes to the latter’s 843 votes and Ogba at Ohafia Local Government with 5,523 to 4,247 votes.
Immediately the result was announced, there were wild jubilations across Abia as people who had waited all day for the verdict , were in joyous mood and some out of happiness, went into drinking spree.
A native of Arochukwu town, Mazi Okechuwu Okoro said he was happy that Kalu won the senatorial seat they have denied him for too long. According to him, “It is not that we have not been voting for him all these years but they fact remained that each time, they will rig him out.
“But since it has been destined he will go to the senate this time around, I think nobody will stop him. We love him and known he is going to represent us well”.
Kelechi Emenike from Isuikwuato said voting Kalu to go to the senate was the best thing that has happened to Isuikwuato in particular and the zone in general.
Describing Ohuabunwa as a disaster foretold, Emenike said he and others from his area are happy that kalu won the election and he was going to wipe away tears of poor representation from them.
In Abia Central and Abia South, it was this same jubilation as people were seen in large numbers discussing and shaking hands as they celebrate the former governor’s victory at the poll.
Eme Awa who was seen among others drinking beer in a restaurant along Azikiwe Road in Aba said he came out to join others to drink when he had about the electoral victory of the former governor.
Awa said Abia North has been poorly represented in the senate in the last four years and said he was optimistic that Kalu was going uplift the people of the area.
“Who should not be happy in Abia North and beyond over Kalu’s victory? Apart from what he did in the area when he was governor, but presently, as he is not in government, he attracted over 30 roads for reconstruction from the federal government some of which have been completed and others nearing completion.
“So, when I say people are happy, it cuts across party and senatorial zone divides as people as cross the state are rejoicing over Kalu’s victory”.
Awa said they are looking forward on the day of Kalu’s inauguration, adding he was convinced that the former governor was not going to disappoint his people.
This is the breakdown of the Abia North senatorial zone senate result: Umunneochi LGA: APC= 5,496, PDP= 5,613, APGA= 2,609; Ohafia LGA: APC= 5,523, PDP+ 4,861, APGA= 4,247; Isuikwuato LGA: APC= 8,317, PDP= 4,609, APGA= 1,792; Bende: APC= 10,701, PDP: 4,875, APGA: 2,232 and Arochukwu: APC= 1,166, PDP= 843, APGA= 528.
In the Bende House of Reps seat, Benjamin Kalu of APC was declared winner after beating his closest rival, Chima Anyaso of the PDP in almost all the electoral wards of the Local Government including his (Anyaso’s) polling unit.
