In what amounts to a vote of confidence, Chief Maxi Okwu, a radical lawyer and politician, has been elected substantive National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) after successfully leading the party in an interim basis for two months.

Okwu, who was appointed Acting National Chairman following the sacking of erstwhile National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, by an Enugu High Court on February 8, floored his challenger, Chief Joe-Martins Uzodike, a lawyer and the Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism.

Okwu won by a landslide in the election just concluded in Awka, the Anambra State capital, winning 790 votes as against 90 by Chief Uzodike.

The convention holding at the Women and Children Development Centre, is graced by delegates from various parts of the country. It started arriving around 10 O’clock last night while the convention started around one this morning following the conclusion of the accreditation of delegates.

It is being attended by delegates from various parts of Nigeria, among them Okwu, host Governor Peter Obi, serving state and national legislators as well as former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, among others.

Imo State Gvernor Rochas Okorocha, whose faction has joined the emergent mega party, All Progressives Congress (APC), and APGA’s estranged immediate past National Chairman Victor Umeh are, however, nowhere near the convention venue.

•Photo: APGA National Chairman, Maxi Okwu.