Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, yesterday polled 63, 618 votes from 64,667 accredited delegates drawn from 305 Electoral Wards and 27 local government areas of the state to sweep the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries held in Owerri that produced him as the party’s candidate for the November 11, 2023 governorship election.
The APC direct primaries which took place at the Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square Owerri, also has in attendance APC stalwarts from Imo State and representatives of the National Working Committee (NWC).
In his acceptance speech, Uzodimma dedicated his victory to God Almighty for making the day possible and for touching the hearts of APC leaders and its members to unanimously choose him as their Governorship candidate for second tenure.
He thanked the delegates from the 305 wards in the state and the 27 LGAs and all party members who came out to vote and for following the laid down regulations.
Uzodimma who was excited over the victory and trust by his party promised not to betray the confidence reposed on him.p
He expressed gratitude to the party members and reminded all to see Imo State as their own, noting that “we have no other State we can call our own.”
He told the mammoth crowd that “democracy is the best form of government and we cherish democracy because it is the only Government that is for the people that we can call our own.”
He recalled how he prayed to God before coming to contest and emerging as Governor of Imo State, saying “from that date till now God has never disappointed me.”
He expressed confidence in what God can do, noting that “on assumption of office I met some challenges but God in his infinite mercy handled the challenges in his own way.”
This, according to him, could be observed from the difference his administration has made in the development of Imo State before assumption and now.
The Governor reiterated that “political party is a vehicle” and prayed God to “use him as the driver of the vehicle to take Imo State to its destination.”
He recalled the challenges of insecurity in the past three years of his administration in Imo State and regretted the huge expenditure in that area.
“But for insecurity Imo State would have witnessed much more development than is experienced today.”
Furthermore, he noted that “APC is a Party at the National, in Imo State and by July when this administration will conduct the Local Government elections APC will be everywhere in the Local Government.”
Highlighting the influence of his achievements, the Governor said: “Strategic communication is the best way of informing the people which translates to seeing is believing.”
He charged the APC members in the State not to be afraid because “God will take charge of the battle” in their favour.
Uzodimma said what the opposition is presenting to his administration as obstacles will be converted into opportunities, assuring that victory will be theirs come November 11, 2023.
The APC Deputy Chairman South, Chief Emma Eneukwu, who represented the National Chairman, Sen Abdullahi Adamu, eulogised the Governor for his unusual capacity that has benefited the Party and her members, and proceeded to hand over to him, the APC flag as the candidate for the coming poll.
