Nigeria: 2015 Presidential Election'll Be Keenly Contested but Jonathan 'Ll Win

20 December 2014
opinion

Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State is one of the incumbent governors who picked a Senatorial ticket for 2015 elections and also succeeded in overseeing a peaceful party primaries. He fielded questions from journalists where he outlined his plan if elected to the red chambers. While dismissing opposition in Abia State as paper tigers that lack grassroots appeal, he admitted that the Presidential election will be keenly contested but assured that Goodluck Jonathan being a better candidate who has performed well, would win the election. Ahamefula Ogbu was there; Excerpts

What is your impression of the primaries in Abia given the discordant tones coming from the exercise in most states? The primaries were free and fair. Reports in the media show that there are not much criticisms or agitations from Abia State. In terms of the guber primaries, the people who contested are men of timber and caliber, men who have credibility and money. It was a very fair contest and they all accepted the result and it was very transparent; so none of them has petitioned or agitated because they knew it was transparent. The same thing goes for the other primaries that were held, that of national assembly had the same level of transparency and that of House of Assembly the same. Summarily, I will say that the primaries in my state were very very fair and the officials that were sent from the national headquarters knew why they were sent there and that was to come and conduct a good primaries that will bring out the best candidates from our state that will win election. So, it was a good election and I congratulate those who came and conducted the elections, I congratulate those who won and congratulate those who lost for having the spirit of sportsmanship and for embracing the successful ones.

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