RESULT OF THE SELECTION PROCESS IN RESPECT OF THE PREFERRED ASPIRANT OF SOUTH-EAST APC PRESIDENCY PROJECT 2023 CONDUCTED ONLINE.
NOTES:
A. South-East APC Presidency Project 2023, a project of South-East APC Integrity Group, was launched in January 2020 to advocate and lobby for emergence of President of Nigeria of South-East extraction on APC platform in 2023.
B. After 18 months of our physical activities across Nigeria plus online and media activities, and having recorded tremendous mileage with most Nigerians now seeing the sense in looking to the South-East for President Buhari’s successor in 2023, it became necessary for us to answer the recurring question of who we will be presenting, first, at APC presidential primary convention, and then at the general election. This is a question we must answer before embarking on the second 18 months of our journey to Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
C. Following consultations, instead of only the Convener of South-East APC Integrity Group and National Coordinator of South-East APC Presidency Project 2023 (Dr Chinedu Jideofo-Ogbuagu) picking our preferred presidential aspirant or setting up a small panel of distinguished individuals to interview likely presidential aspirants and recommend one to the Project (and both options were contemplated), we opted for a third option of a conclave of representative 250-257 online selectors.
D. First, the conclave was constituted randomly from a South-East APC contact list of our Project which cuts across all five states of the geopolitical zone in almost equal strengths.
E. Next, the conclave participants were asked to nominate individuals they deemed qualified and capable of representing the South-East in the 2023 presidential race on APC platform. 17 nominees were received at the close of nominations, including, surprisingly, HE Mr Peter Obi who is yet to defect to APC. This stage of the selection process lasted for two days.
F. The next stage of the selection process, which also lasted for 2 days, was when the participants were asked to pass respectful and truthful comments in favour or against the nominees.
G. The third stage was entering votes for the 17 nominees, at the end of which the scores stood as follows, and in order of highest number of votes scored to the least:
1. Chief Chris Chikwado Ibe – 27 votes.
2. Hon Dr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba – 18 votes.
3. HE Dr Ogbonnaya Onu – 14 votes.
4. HE Mr Peter Obi – 10 votes.
5. HE Barr Sullivan Iheanacho Chime – 7 votes.
6. HE Sen Ken Nnamani – 3 votes.
7. HE Sen Rochas Anayo Okorocha – 3 votes.
8. HE Sen Dr Orji Uzor Kalu – 2 votes.
9. HE Engr David Nweze Umahi – 1 vote.
10. Chief Francis Nomeh Mgbada – 1 votes.
11. Hon Chike Okafor – 0 vote.
12. Hon Barr Geoffrey Onyeama – 0 vote.
13. Mr Osita Okechukwu – 0 vote.
14. HE Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige – 0 vote.
15. Sen Julius Ucha – 0 vote.
16. Barr Sharon Ikeazor – 0 vote.
17. Sen Osita Izunaso – 0 vote.
H. 89 votes were entered but 3 of them were voided because of double voting by two of the participants.
I. 7 of the nominees did not receive any vote at all and will not proceed further in the selection process.
J. Without a clear winner (a clear winner must score at least 50% of the total valid votes entered), the ten who scored at least 1 vote will go to second ballot.
K. We had not anticipated voting on state lines and the conclave actually did reasonably well voting across state lines, but we shall at second ballot ensure that equal number of selectors will come from each of the five states. The exact number of participants will be 15 per state or 5 per senatorial district. Other details of the second ballot (including date/time and procedure) will be announced later this week, starting 14th June 2021.
L. We are most grateful to the participants in the conclave of what has become the first ballot. They did a great job and have boosted hope of our Project agenda being achieved.
Signed:
Dr. Chinedu Jideofo-Ogbuagu
Convener, South-East APC Integrity Group, and
National Coordinator, South-East APC Presidency Project 2023.
08023163451 (Calls & sms only)
09052910866 (WhatsApp & sms only).