A former senator, Athan Achonu, who represented Imo North Senatorial District, has emerged the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the November 11 governorship election in Imo State.

Declaring the results in Owerri, the Imo State capital on Saturday night, the Chairman of the Electoral Panel and Governor-elect of Abia State, Alex Otti, said Achonu polled 134 votes.

Otti said Achonu defeated his closest rival, Maj.-Gen. Lincoln Ogunewe, who scored 121 votes.

Other contestants, including Martin Agbaso garnered 13 votes, Basil Maduka got one vote, Ibe Ike polled three votes, Sam Amadi scored four votes, while Capt. David Mbamara (Retd) garnered five votes.

Otti added that Kelechi Nwagwu garnered nine votes, AIG Charles Agomuo got one vote, while the only female contestant among the 16 aspirants, Ndidi Anike, secured only one vote.

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The chairman commended the 296 delegates for their peaceful conduct during the exercise just as he hailed the aspirants for their resilience.

He urged all the aspirants to support the governorship candidate of the party “so that together we can move as a team to win the trophy.”

“All we want is a very strong Labour Party in Imo. Abia state does not want to be an orphan.

“So we plead with you to ensure that a brother governor emerges in the state come November 11,” Otti stressed.

In his reaction, Achonu thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed in him and the stakeholders for their support.

Achonu is the third governorship candidate who has so far emerged from the various political party primaries conducted in the state.

He will be contesting the November 11 governorship election alongside Governor Hope Uzodimma of the APC and Sen. Samuel Anyanwu of the PDP.

The Star