By David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
A member of the House of Representatives, Tony Nwoye, has won the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to fly the flag of the party in the Anambra State governorship election slated for  November 18.
Nwoye won the hotly contested primary election after beating 11 other aspirants of the party, including Senator Andy Uba who was perceived as his godfather.
The lawmaker polled a grand total of 2,146 votes to beat his closest rival, Uba who lagged behind with 931 votes.
This is the second time Nwoye is beating Uba in a governorship primary election.
He had in 2013 clinched the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) above Uba, who later ran on one faction of the party.
Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, who announced the result, said the election was the easiest and smoothest he had ever witnessed.
He said he was proud of the members of his committee, the team of observers from the party’s national headquarters and also the leadership of the party in the state.
He thanked the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, whom he described as a true democrat who did not meddle in the process.
“We did our work the best way we could by avoiding the major actors of the election, and I can tell you that I do not know him, and even if you bring him here I do not still know him.
“With the power conferred on me as the chairman of the primary election committee for APC in Anambra, I declare Nwoye the winner of the primary election.
Other aspirants of the party polled votes as follows; Onunkwo Johnbosco, 85; Bart Nwibe, 414; Moughalu George, 525; Chukwuma, 110; Okonkwo Donatus,10; Madu Nonso, 21; Nwike Patrick, 20; Obidigbo Chike, 22;Â Uzoh Obinna,17 and Kate Uchegbu, the only female in the race garnered one vote.
Total number of delegates accredited for the election was 4,458, total votes cast 4333, while 4302 were adjudged valid. Invalid votes stood at 31.
The election was conducted amid tight security, with over 300 police and NSCDC personnel present at the venue.
Meanwhile, one of the aspirants of the party, Dr. Chike Obidigbo, had hours before the commencement of the primary election withdrawn, citing the need to prone down the number of aspirants.
Obidigbo who expressed happiness at the smoothness of politicking in the party, said APC has truly shown that it is a party with internal democratic structure.
He called on the aspirants of the party to join hand with whoever emerges as the party’s candidate to ensure victory for the party.
He added that for the one year he has been a member of the party, he has seen the difference between it and the PDP and urged the party to keep IP its internal democratic mechanism.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Anambra State gubernatorial election planning and strategy committee, Chief Jim Nwobodo, has commended Nwoye on his victory as the candidate of the APC.
Nwobodo in a statement said he watched the live transmission of the programme with keen interest and was satisfied that Nwoye emerged winner as the contest was devoid of rancour.
He said: “I congratulate Nwoye for the overwhelming mandate.  This is a victory for the APC and all the aspirants for the peaceful manner they conducted themselves at the primary.
“I wish to use this opportunity to remind all the aspirants of their commitment to support whoever emerged as the party flagbearer. I appeal to you to join Nwoye and form a formidable campaign team that would secure victory for our party, the APC, in the forthcoming November, 2017 governorship election.â€
He also congratulated the Governor Shettima and his committee for conducting a free, credible and rancour-free primary in the state, saying it was the first time any political party would conduct such a transparent and rancour free primary in the state.
He congratulated the National Chairman and National Working Committee (NWC) of the party for making the success possible and not also meddling in the process.
