The belief that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is now one united house following the reconciliation of Governor Peter Obi and Chief Victor Umeh was proved false today as the Maxi Okwu-led faction of the party held its own primaries ahead of the November 16 Anambra governorship ballot.

The election held in the state capital Awka produced Dr Chike Obidigbo as the APGA governorship candidate as opposed to Chief Willie Obiano, who on August 26 emerged as the flagbearer of the Chief Victor Umeh faction.

This was even as even as Senator Chris Ngige polled 63,255 votes to rout sole challenger Godwin Ezemuo who got 9,564 votes during the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries also held in Awka today.

A graduate of the universities of Salford, Manchester, and Lancaster, UK, Dr. Obidigbo, comes from Anambra North just like Chief Obiano. A one-time lecturer and journalist, Obidigbo is an accomplished industrialist and presently the chairman of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi states, as well as a member of National Council of Small and Medium Scale Industries.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report says that Obidigbo was picked at a special congress attended by no fewer than 450 delegates and where he was the sole aspirant in the race.

The report quotes Chief Chris Eze, Chairman of the faction’s Screening Committee, as saying that the party had come out with “a most qualified and well-known candidate” in Dr. Obidigbo.

He said Obidigbo was returned unopposed with a score of 450 votes, and Okwu later handed the party’s flag to him.

Commending the delegates for their large turnout, Okwu expressed the confidence that the flagbearer would win the governorship election on Nov. 16 in the state.

“Obidigbo will take over the mantle from Gov. Peter Obi. It is my honour to present the flag to you to fly it high,’’ he said.

In his reaction, Obidigbo said APGA was one indivisible political party.

He however commended Gov. Peter Obi for “the good job he had done to lift the state to enviable heights.”

The flagbearer urged the party faithful from various parts of the state to work harder to deliver the state to the party during the election.

“I will not disappoint you if you vote for me during the gubernatorial election on Nov. 16 to take over from Obi in 2014,” Obidigbo assured.

•Photo shows APGA factional governorship candidate, Obidigbo.

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