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Months before the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Assembly Primaries, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu had no challenger for the Abia North Senatorial District for the APC ticket. As the captain of the APC team in the state, not few thought he should have any opponent during the Primaries.
The consensus among many was that looming large and high above his contemporaries ostensibly due to his quality representation in the Senate over the years and his political sagacity, he is a first team player that needs no substitution.
However, as it is always said, politics is a leveler that at times tries to bring at par a master and his house boy. So, at the tail of March or thereabout, Philip Nto, a lecturer at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), threw in his towel into the ring, challenging Sen Kalu to a contest for the APC ticket for Abia Senatorial seat.
Nto was a total mismatch to the former Governor, he himself was well aware of that. There is no rocket science in finding out this order than the result of the primary election itself.
The direct primary election, conducted across the five local government areas and 57 wards of Abia North Senatorial District on Monday, witnessed massive participation by party members and stakeholders.
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Results collated from the primary election across the five local government areas that make up the district, showed that Sen Kalu defeated his lone challenger, Nto, by a wide margin
The overall result indicated overwhelming support for Senator Kalu in Ohafia, Bende, Isikwuato, Umunneochi and Arochukwu LGAs. The former Governor didn’t spare Nto in his own Local Government Area of Arochukwu.
In Ohafia LGA, results from wards including Etiti, Agbo, Ameke, Agboji, Ohafor, and Okamu indicated a landslide victory for Kalu, with Nto polling zero votes in several of the wards.
It was the same story in Arochukwu LGA where Nto came from, Senator Kalu secured decisive victories in wards such as Ututu, Ikwun Ihechiowa, Ohafor Abam, Arochukwu Ward 1, Arochukwu Ward 2, and other polling areas.
The APC primary results also showed strong performances for Senator Kalu in Bende, Isikwuato, and Umunneochi LGAs, further consolidating his dominance across the Abia North Senatorial District.
The official results announced at the APC collation centre, showed that a total of 72,028 registered voters participated in the exercise, while 69,441 voters were accredited, and total votes cast stood at 67,854.
Senator Kalu polled 65,651 votes to defeat Nto who secured 2,103 votes, giving the former Senate Chief Whip a commanding victory margin of 63,548 votes.
