By Ikechukwu Odu
NSUKKA—-Mr Samuel Ekwueme has won the primary election to contest for Uzo-Uwani/Igbo-Etiti Federal Constituency seat under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC in 2023.
In the election conducted at the Community Primary School, Aku, in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State on Friday, Ekwueme won his contender, Mrs.Eunice Atuejide with 92 votes to 39 votes.
The Returning Officer for the election, Chikezie Ozoemena, adjudged the exercise as free, fair and transparent.
However, a mild drama ensued when Sam’s contender, Mrs. Atuejide, on sensing that the election was not going on her favour, allegedly tried to snatch the ballot papers already cast.
It however, took the prompt intervention of the electoral officers and some party supporters to retrieve the already rumpled ballot papers from her and the touts she brought to disrupt the election.
In his victory speech, Ekwueme, thanked the delegates and the people of the Constituency for reposing their trust on him. He pledged to create employment opportunities for the youth and to equally empower his constituents through skills acquisition.
When asked to comment on the protest which greeted the election of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, candidate in the Constituency, Ekwueme said that it indicated that the people want a change of leadership, adding that he would provide people-oriented governance that would give everyone a sense of belonging if elected in 2023.
“We are going to focus on having good laws that would create economic activities and jobs for our people. We would provide a paradigm shift from PDP’s system of government that has kept our people backward for many years.
“We would ensure that every youth is either employed, in school or learning a trade. Our women too would be empowered. In addition to these, we would equally develop critical infrastructure in our Constituency,” he said.
