Ebonyi guber: SDP candidate, Chibueze-Agbo, congratulates Umahi Obinna Odogwu, Abakaliki

The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ebonyi State, Prince Ndubuisi Chibueze-Agbo, has conceded defeat and accepted the result of the 2019 governorship election in the state which produced Chief David Umahi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner.

He has also congratulated Umahi who is also the incumbent governor of the state.

Umahi defeated 36 other candidates including the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Sonni Ogbuoji, and Mr Chibueze-Agbo in the 13 local government areas of the state with a wide margin.

Chibueze-Agbo in a congratulatory letter to Umahi said that he had accepted the result as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the spirit of sportsmanship.

He said that initially, his plan was to contest for the House of Representative seat for his Ebonyi/Ohaukwu federal constituency on the platform of the APC but quit the party for SDP because of alleged irregularities committed during its primaries.

“It was the irregularities, impunity, and wanton abuse of the party’s guidelines and constitution, disrespect for the party elders, and killings that characterised the primary, and my realisation that the managers of the party in Ebonyi State lacked the understanding, preparedness, zeal, training, exposure and charisma needed for effective engagement and  fruitful opposition in the state. That made me to leave the team immediately and join the SDP where I was given the opportunity to fly the flag and participate in the 2019 governorship election,” he added.

He urged the governor to carry everyone along in his policies and programmes as he is the governor of everybody irrespective of their political affiliation.

“One thing is instructive: you are the governor of Ebonyi State de facto and de jure. You are the governor of everybody in the state irrespective of party, religion, colour, tribe, creed and status.

“I, therefore, appeal that you strive to keep that in mind in all your policies as you lead us in the next four years.”

The SDP gubernatorial candidate, however, appealed to the governor to assist the families that lost their houses and means of livelihood due to the crises that erupted in some communities especially in Izzi and Ezza North local government areas of the state.