Add BBN on 2BAFB965
By Uchechukwu Ugboaja

The supplementary elections in the nine local governments in Abia State, rescheduled by INEC have left the people of Abia State in jubilant mode since the announcement of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as winner of the Abia State gubernatorial elections.
Jubilant supporters were seen at different locations in the state celebrating the victory of Dr. Ikpeazu. In Aba, youths could barely hide their excitement because this was the first time a true son of Ngwa origin had emerged as governor elect.
Expressing his joy to our correspondent a serving commissioner of Lands and Housing and former member of Abia State House of Assembly who also hails from Ukwu-Ngwa, Hon. K.O Mbeahuru could not hold back his emotions as he stated that Ikpeazu's victory has been long awaited by the entire Ngwa people both at home and in diaspora.
INEC had declared Ikpeazu winner with 264,713 votes to defeat the APGA's candidate Dr. Alex Otti, who scored 180,882 at the end of the re-run elections in the disputed nine local government areas.
A native of Obingwa local government area, in Abia South Senatorial Zone; the only zone yet to produce a governor for Abia state since its creation. Until his election as governor elect he had served as the Assistant General Manager of the Abia State Environmental Sanitation Agency in charge of Aba the state's commercial nerve centre. As a Ph.D holder in Chemistry, Ikpeazu had taught at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology before joining politics.
The Abia State Governor and Senator elect for Abia South Senatorial District, Governor T.A Orji had been adjudged to be the architect of Ikpeazu's emergence when he supported the zoning of the People's Democratic Party PDP's ticket to Abia South Senatorial Zone. According to the governor this was the only way to ensure that the principle of justice, equity and fairness is deepened within the party. "This is victory will remain one of my greatest legacies because Abians will always remember me as the governor who lived up to his promise of handing over power to the people of Ukwa-Ngwa whom had never been governor even since when Abia was under the old Imo State."
It will be recalled that some previous leaders had been reported to have vowed never to allow an Ngwa man become governor, but Governor T.A Orji insisted that such jinx must be broken by the PDP led state government.
 
Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu had since his declaration as winner, extended the olive branch to his opponent Dr. Alex Otti of APGA, in the keenly contested election which had to require a re-run after the April 11th elections were declared inconclusive by the INEC returning officer in some local governments. According to Dr. Ikpeazu, the victory belongs to all Abians regardless of their political or social lining because it is time for Abia State to move forward as this can only be possible when everyone comes on board.

@blackboxupdate