by Sam Hart
The 2015 General Elections will go down in history as the most fierce political battle ever fought in Abia State.
The 1999 elections in Abia State were quite tough no doubt but the tension abated shortly after the elections thanks to the rapprochement reached with Prince Vin Ogbulafor, the main opposition figure who was convinced to join the Peoples Democratic Party and subsequently was appointed a Minister in the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.
The next titanic battle came in 2007 when the PDP faced up with the Progressive Peoples Alliance for political supremacy in Abia State. It was a tense period but today, all the gladiators of 2007 are in the same political boat.
In the current dispensation, Dr. Alex Otti flew the flag of the All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA ) and the party fielded candidates in various positions to challenge the supremacy of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abia State.
Today, the elections have been won and lost as all results from the elections have been declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ).
As it stands in Abia State today, of the 3 Senatorial seats in Abia State, the Peoples Democratic Party produced all the Senators to represent the State. Of the 8 House of Representatives seats, the PDP produced 7 while APGA produced 1 in Aba Federal Constituency (Ossy Prestige).
Of the 24 House of Assembly seats up for grabs, the PDP produced 13 while APGA produced 11. The outcome of the House of Assembly elections are a direct reflection of the Governorship election results where PDP got 60% of the votes to APGA’S 40%.
It is heartwarming to note that Governor-elect Okezie Ikpeazu has extended a hand of fellowship to all those who contested the elections with him. In a widely circulated statement he personally signed, he invited all his co-contestants to join him so that together, they can achieve their aspirations for the State.
It is imperative that the Peoples Democratic Party in Abia State do not go on a witch hunting or victimisation drive against those who supported candidates of other parties. The elections are over, a winner has emerged therefore it is imperative that all hands should be on deck to face the task ahead.
Dr. Alex Otti who contested the elections under the banner of APGA should be proud of himself. He fought a good fight and he proved to be a dogged fighter till the end.
Now that the elections are over, the supporters of Dr. Alex Otti and other candidates who lost out in the elections should tone down on the divisive rhetoric. Kudos to all those who have congratulated the winner and have promised not to challenge his victory. As for those who have approached the tribunal to challenge the victory of PDP, they must allow the tribunals do their job without unnecessarily heating up the state polity.
Until God forbid the courts pronounce otherwise, Okezie Ikpeazu is the elected Governor of Abia State and he will be sworn in as the 4th elected Governor of Abia State on May 29, 2015. He has expressed his desire to hit the ground running from the get go to tackle the myriad challenges facing Abia State and it is imperative that he is not distracted from the task ahead.
Abia is a great State by every ramification. The future is bright for the state and the signs are looking good for a period of rapid development with Aba driving the much needed economic renaissance.
All hands should therefore be on deck to galvanise the needed support for the task ahead.
Oke Ezuola Abia. Ala adilanma.
Sam Hart can be reached on twitter @hartng
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
