With about twenty months to the 2023 general elections in Nigeria, the topic of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s successor is already trending in the state.
Some of the major contenders are already making moves to achieve their ambition. Notable among them are:
1. Dr. Alex Otti
Otti, 55 is a Former Group Managing Director (GMD) of Diamond Bank. The trained Economist and Politician hails from Arochukwu Local Government Area in the Northern Senatorial District.
He came into political limelight in 2015 when he contested unsuccessfully to become the Governor of Abia State under the APGA platform. Otti made another failed attempt under the same APGA platform in 2019. He later decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Such calculations worked badly against him in 2015 and 2019.
2. Engr Chinedum Orji
Engr. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji is the 11th and current Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, in office since June 10, 2019.
He was elected as the Lawmaker representing Umuahia Central State Constituency in 2015 and got re-elected during the 2019 Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections in Abia State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
He was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly on the 10th of June, 2019 during the Inauguration of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly.
3. Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu
Ude Oko is a top contender for the PDP ticket.
The 59year-old PDP Governorship hopeful is a Chatered Accountant and Politician who is currently the Deputy Governor of Abia State.
The Former lawmaker was a member of the Abia State House of Assembly where he represented Ohafia State Constituency between 2003 and 2015, serving as Speaker from 2011 to 2015. He was elected as Deputy Governor of Abia State in April 2015. Chukwu was re-elected for a second-term in March 2019.
His chances are very high because of his experience and voting strength of his area.
4. Barrister Etigwe Uwa, SAN, FCIArb
Barr. Uwa is a Partner in StreamSowers & Kohn, a leading law firm in Nigeria.
He is from Ohafia Local Government Area.
Experienced Legal Practitioner with a demonstrated history of working in the law practice industry. Skilled in Dispute Resolution, Arbitration, Oil and Gas, Aviation and other areas of law. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Etigwe is the Partner in charge of the Dispute Resolution Practice of Streamsowers Kohn. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1990 and is regarded as a fine litigator, whose reputation has been founded on intensive experience of the Nigerian court system at all levels. Etigwe was conferred with the rank of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (the equivalent of the Queen’s Counsel UK), in 2010.
His litigation and arbitration experience span a wide range of areas including commercial disputes, international trade, oil and gas, telecommunications, company law, maritime and aviation, intellectual property, employment, personal injury, construction, trade disputes, insurance, taxation, banks and other financial institutions. He also has an established reputation as an authority on Nigerian aviation law.
Etigwe is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK and a member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators.
Uwa is a new comer in Abia politics, but with an incredible CV and contact to succeed Governor Ikpeazu.
He is believed to be the preferred candidate of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and the National leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
5. Hon. Uko Ndukwe Nkole, FNITP
Uko Ndukwe Nkole was born on 20 October 1975 to Chief Emmanuel Ndukwe Nkole and Madam Nkole.
His father was a senior manager at the Central Bank of Nigeria before his retirement.
Nkole attended Ovukwu Secondary school, where he received his Senior School Certificate in 1993.
He obtained a bachelor’s degree in 1999, in marketing at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
He also received a Postgraduate Diploma from the Nigerian Town Planning Institute in 2001.
He is currently a two time member of the House of Representatives, representing Arocbukwu/Ohafia federal constituency.
Uko, is loved across the senatorial districts and a top contender for the PDP ticket.
6. Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah
The 51years-old Ogah is a trained Banker, Businessman and Politician. A Prominent Oil Magnate, He is the Chairman of Master Energy Group.
In 2014, Ogah lauched his governorship ambition which ended as he lost the PDP governorship ticket to Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu who went ahead to win the 2015 Gubernatorial Election.
He decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2018 and clinched the party’s Governorship Ticket. Ogah lost to Ikpeazu who was re-elected during the March 2019 Governorship Election. On the 21st of August, 2019, He was appointed as Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Both APC and PDP may not zone their governorship tickets to Isikwuato LGA because of their voting strength and the fact that it’ll be a tough contest between the two parties.
7. Engr. Ukpai Iro Ukpai, Ph.D, CQRM
Born 26th December, 1963 in Asaga Ohafia, Ohafia LGA.
Education: B. Engrg, FUTO; LL.M, Dundee, UK (Petroleum Finance and Taxation); Ph.D, Lancaster, UK (Leadership and Management, specialized in Strategic Human Resource Management); CQRM (Certified in Quantitative Risk Management), IIPER, USA.
Ukpai is currently the Chairman and CEO Hocihatt Ltd, PH.
Managing Director, Smart Drilling Services, PH. 2012 – 2014
Founder, LEGOG Foundation
Former Vice President, Mben Political Assembly;
Founder and National Coordinator, Ohafia Progressives Forum (OPF) in APC;
Elder of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria since 1997;
Card carrying Member, All Progressives Congress (APC) since 2015.
A grassroot politician. Who single handedly funded, trained and supervised door to door campaigners in all 26 Ohafia villages to project all APC candidates (Presidential to House of Assembly) during the 2019 elections.
He is said to have the backing of the Minister Transportation and former Governor of Rivers state, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi.
8. Barr. Umeh Kalu SAN
Umeh Kalu was born in Ohafia, Abia State where he went on to complete his primary and secondary education in 1972 and 1978 respectively.
He obtained his Bachelor of Law certificate from Imo State University after he graduated in 1985. Umeh was called to the Bar in 1986 after attending the Nigerian Law School.
Umeh Kalu served as the senior special assistant on legal matters to Theodore Orji before he was appointed as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Abia State during the administrations of Theodore Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu in 2009 and 2015 respectively.
He contested in a failed bid for a seat in the Arochukwu/Bende/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the 2007 general elections.
Umeh Kalu is presently a distinguished member of the Inner Bar as he was elevated to the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2016.
9. Dr Chidia Maduekwe
Dr Chidia Maduekwe, is from Ohafia LGA of the state.
He js the incumbent Managing Director, Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC).
Former Member, Federal House of Representatives and Chairman House committee on Defense.
Federal commissioner, Federal character commission 1995.
He is a Chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) and leading contender for the party’s ticket.
10. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe
An immensely experienced politician having served as deputy governor and now the minority leader of the Senate, 66-year old Abaribe is one senator to look out for in 2023.
He is currently oiling his political machine to kick-start his campaign to take over from Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
