By MATTHEW KALU

Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday elected a former bank chief, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu, as its new chairman.

Ononogbu, a former General Manager, Risk Management, Spring Bank Plc, was unanimously elected at a special congress to replace late Mazi Enyinnaya Harbor.

The office of the Chairman of APC, Abia State, became vacant last December following the death of the former chairman, Mazi Harbor, who emerged during the October 2021 State congress of the party.

Announcing the result of the congress held in Umuahia, the state capital, the Special Congress Committee chairman, Hon Kolawole Babatunde, said Ononogbu, the sole candidate, polled 1,067 votes out of 1,075 cast.

According to the two-term former federal lawmaker from Ondo State, 1, 080 of the 1, 085 delegates were accredited for the congress, adding that the exercise recorded eight void votes and “was fair and transparent just as was directed by the leadership of the party under the chairmanship of Governor Mai Mala Bunu of Yobe State.”

In his acceptance speech, Ononogbu expressed appreciation to the delegates and the entire members of the party for finding him capable of occupying the office, especially with the general election less than 13 months away.

He said his responsibility would be tasking as it was coming at a time when the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the state wants to retain power by all means in 2023, despite its 24 years of misrule and mal-administration.

Onogbu who also served as Chief Inspector of defunct Citizens Bank Plc, appealed for support from the members and residents of the state to change its governance narrative as “the time for the needed change in the state has begun in earnest.”

Paying tribute to his predecessor, he described the late Harbor as a very honest, committed and sincere leader, adding that Abia APC members owe him a duty to strive to achieve the goal of winning the 2023 Abia governorship election in order to set a new agenda for the state.

At the congress, the immediate past Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Benedict Godson, told newsmen that dissenting voices were harmonised after the parallel congresses and pledged his loyalty to new APC state helmsman.

Godson, who led four officers produced by the previous parallel state congress conducted by the former executive committee of the party to the Saturday’s congress, added that prospect of victory for Abia APC in next year’s election remain high.

Others who spoke at the congress include the Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha representing Umunneochi/Isuikwuato Federal Constituency and Barr Friday N. Nwosu, a leader of the party in the state.

Independent National Electoral Commission officers from both the national headquarters, Abuja and the state, along with different security agencies, monitored the congress which proceeded peacefully.

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