Varsity chancellor, ex-minister, Anosike win PDP governorship tickets in C’River, Enugu, Abia

From Jude Chinedu, Enugu, Okey Sampson, Umuahia and Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar

Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State for the 2027 general election.

Nnaji secured a landslide victory at the party’s governorship primary election in Enugu, polling 7,424 votes to defeat his opponent, Samson Nnamani, who scored 600 votes.

The exercise was conducted by the chairman of the PDP State Governorship Electoral Committee, Austin Nwachukwu.

Nnaji thanked party members for entrusting him with the mandate, promising not to disappoint them if elected governor in 2027.

He said his administration would focus on reducing the hardship faced by residents of the state, especially what he described as excessive and burdensome taxation.

In Abia State, Dr. Kelechi Anosike defeated  former Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu.

According to the official result announced by the factional state chairman of the party, Abraham Amah, Anosike secured 16,543 votes to defeat Okiyi-Kalu who garnered 3,145 votes and Olugu Kalu Ugba with 961 votes.

Anosike defeated Okiyi-Kalu in all the 17 local government areas to clinch the ticket.

PDP adopted the Option A4 direct primary which was held simultaneously across the 17 local government areas of Abia State, in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

Anosike, a native of Umuahia North Local Government Area of the state, was said to have joined the PDP during their e-registration exercise and immediately began his underground campaign.

The Chancellor of Arthur Jarvis University, Sir Arthur Jarvis secured the governorship ticket  in Cross River State.

Declaring the results, chairman of the electoral committee, Dr. Clinton Chika said Sir Jarvis was the sole candidate of the party.

He disclosed that 10,133 members were accredited to participate in the primaries and 10,130 voted  for him to ensure his emergence as the PDP flag-bearer.

Earlier, Venatius Ikem, the State Chairman of the PDP said the party had been reinventing itself and generating a lot of confidence recently.

He said the incumbent administration in the state has not shown any reason to vote it again and described Jarvis as an upright man who fits the bill.