Estranged wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs Clara Chibuzor Chime, and her Kogi State counterpart, Mrs. Farida Ijeoma Wada, flopped in their attempts to secure the House of Representatives tickets in their constituencies in Abia State during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries which was characterised by withdrawals by frontline politicians.

The primaries held yesterday across the eight federal constituencies in Abia saw the Abia daughters who are married outside the shores of the state crashing in their bid to make it into politics through their home state. While Mrs. Wada floundered to a third position in hotly contested House of Representatives ticket for Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency by securing 12 votes, reports from Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency said Clara got no vote.

The primaries, generally peaceful though the military was drafted to provide security at some venues, witnessed last-minute withdrawals as many frontline politicians had to step down, ostensibly to avoid being disgraced at the polls.

Deputy Leader of Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Princewill Chima Onyegbu, who aspired to graduate to the upper green chamber of the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly, set the pace with his early morning announcement on the state-run radio, Broadcasting Corpoation of Abia (BCA), that he had withdrawn from the primary contest to pick the PDP flagbearer for Bende Federal Constituency. Similarly, an industrialist and a frontline politician from Ikwuano, Chief Henry Ikechukwu Iko, also withdrew from the contest for the Ikwuamo/Umuahia Federal Constituency ticket.

Reports said that the pioneer Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Arua Arunsi, curently representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency, as well as his Isiala Ngwa North/IsialNgwa South Federal Constituency counterpart, Hon. Chineny Ike, similarly perished their aspiations by withdrawing from the primaries.

Available results show that the return bid by Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, is alive as she crushed her opponent to grab the ticket. She reportedly polled 63 votes while her closest rival got five.

Like Onyejeocha, Hon. Nnenna Ukeje representing Bende Federal Constituency, may be on her way back to the green chamber as she had no difficulties in dusting her old rivals, including perennial contestant, Chief Paul Chikezie Mba, with 43 votes.

However, the return bid of Hon. Oluchi Ibeji to represent Ikwuamo/Umuahia Federal Constituency was quashed as he suffered a crushing defeat in the hands of Chief Sam Onuigbo, a former Commissioner of Finance in Abia State. Onuigbo seccured 66 votes as against Ibeji’s 35 during the primary held at Nwankwo Kanu Hall of the Umuahia Township Stadium.

Meanwhile, Governor Theodore Orji will today be affirmed as the PDP candidate for Abia Central Senatorial District. Orji is standing as the sole aspirant in the senatorial primary in the zone.

But it would be a cliff hanger tussle between old war horse, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, who will be slugging it out with another front runner, Chief Mao Ohuabunwa, for the Abia North Senatorial ticket, while in Abia South, incumbent Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe would battle other aspirants for the covetted ticket.

The governorship primaries hold tomorrow.

•Photo shows Hon. Oluchi Ibeji congratulating Chief Sam Onuigboat the end of the PDP primaries to pick the party’s candidate for Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency. Onuigbo beat Ibeji by 66 votes to 35.

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