2019 Abia State gubernatorial election

The Governor of Abia State is elected using the plurality voting system.

The PDP primary election was held on 30 September 2018. Okezie Ikpeazu, the incumbent governor, who was the party sole aspirant, emerged winner with 1,991 delegate votes. The chairperson of the PDP gubernatorial primary elections in Abia State, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, announced there was a total of 2,350 registered delegates from the 17 LGAs of the state, 2,207 used ballots, with 23 invalid votes.{{Cite news |url=https://dailypost.ng/2018/10/01/pdp-governorship-primaries-gov-ikpeazu-emerges-abia-candidate/ |title=PDP governorship primaries: Gov. Ikpeazu emerges Abia candidate |date=October 1, 2018 |last=Emeruwa |first=Chijindu |publisher=Daily Pist |access-date=April 26, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://punchng.com/ikpeazu-ayade-okowa-wike-others-win-pdp-gov-tickets/ |title=Ikpeazu, Ayade, Okowa, Wike, others win PDP gov tickets |author=Sesan |date=October 1, 2018 |publisher=Punch |access-date=April 26, 2021}}

• Party nominee: Okezie Ikpeazu:{{Cite news |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/otti-ikpeazu-at-war-over-abia-guber-poll-2/ |title=Otti, Ikpeazu at war over Abia guber poll |date=January 8, 2019 |last=Okoli |first=Anayo |location=Umuahia |publisher=Vanguard |access-date=April 26, 2021}} Incumbent governor.
• Running mate: Ude Okoh Chukwu.{{Cite news |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/06/groups-want-oko-chukwu-retained-abia-deputy-gov/ |title=Groups want Oko Chukwu retained as Abia deputy gov |date=June 13, 2018 |last=Alaribe |first=Ugochukwu |location=Aba |publisher=Vanguard |access-date=April 23, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.today.ng/news/politics/2019-ohafia-rejects-abia-deputy-governors-bid-election-119849 |title=2019: Ohafia rejects Abia deputy governor's bid for re-election |last=Bona |first=Sheriff |date=June 5, 2018 |publisher=Today NG |access-date=April 26, 2021}}

The All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election earlier slated to be were held on Sunday 30 September 2018 was rescheduled for Monday 1 October 2018 to be witnessed by the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) coming from Abuja.{{Cite news |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/09/apc-postpones-abia-governorship-primaries/ |title=APC postpones Abia governorship primaries |date=September 30, 2018 |publisher=Vanguard |access-date=April 22, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/30/apc-in-search-of-a-winning-formula-in-abia-state/ |title=APC in Search of A Winning Formula in Abia State |date=September 30, 2018 |publisher=This Day Live |access-date=April 22, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/10/02/crises-persist-as-apc-pdp-round-off-gov-primaries/ |title=Crises Persist as APC, PDP Round off Gov Primaries |date=October 2, 2018 |publisher=This Day |access-date=April 26, 2021}}

However, the Dr. Emmanuel Ndukwe faction of state's APC declared Emenike winner of the contest they went ahead to organise on 30 September 2018, in which he was said to have polled 274,133 votes, defeating six other contenders in the contest. But his name, nevertheless, got omitted from the list forward to the INEC by the party's National Working Committee (NWC). Emenike secured an Abuja court injunction which affirmed Emenike as the party's candidate for the upcoming governorship race.{{Cite news |url=https://m.guardian.ng/news/court-affirms-emenike-as-abia-apcs-governorship-candidate/ |title=Court affirms Emenike as Abia APC's governorship candidate |last=Onyekwere |first=Joseph |date=December 1, 2018 |publisher=Guardian |access-date=April 22, 2021}}

The official primary election was held Tuesday, October 2, 2018, and the results announced at about 3.45 a.m, on Wednesday by the Chairman of the electoral committee, David Iyoha, announcing Uche Ogah, said to have polled 86,875 votes winner ahead of six other aspirants, including: Chief Martins Azubuike with 10,889 votes, Chief Friday Nwosu with 3,529 votes, Chris Akomas with 2,143 votes, Amb. Okey Emuchey with 1,270 votes, Paul Ikonne with 999 votes, and Chief Ikechi Emenike with 455 votes. A total of 106,160 votes were reportedly cast according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in the state's 184 wards.{{Cite news |url=https://www.pulse.ng/news/politics/2019-election-drama-as-ogah-emerges-2nd-abia-apc-governorship-candidate/png8z48 |title=Drama as Ogah emerges 2nd Abia APC governorship candidate |date=March 10, 2018 |author=Nurudeen |publisher=Pulse Nigeria |access-date=April 26, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.concise.ng/full-results-of-abia-apc-guber-primary-won-by-uche-ogah/ |title=Full Results Of Abia APC Guber Primary Won By Uche Ogah |last=Sunday |first=Philips |date=October 3, 2018 |publisher=Concise.ng |access-date=April 26, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://nigerianobservernews.com/2018/10/abia-guber-ogah-emerges-apc-governorship-candidate-for-2019/ |title=Abia Guber: Ogah Emerges APC Governorship Candidate For 2019 |last=Okereafor |first=Kelvin |date=October 3, 2018 |publisher=Nigerian Observer News |access-date=April 27, 2021}}

Subsequently, a court ruling in January 2019 affirmed Ogah as winner of the election instead of Emenike.{{Cite news |url=https://www.pulse.ng/news/politics/court-affirms-ogah-as-apc-governorship-candidate-in-abia/94e9rm1 |title=Court affirms Ogah as APC governorship candidate in Abia |date=January 25, 2019 |website=Pulse Nigeria |publisher=News Agency Of Nigeria |access-date=April 22, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/01/25/court-affirms-ogah-as-apc-governorship-candidate-in-abia/ |title=Court affirms Ogah as APC governorship candidate in Abia |last=Ugbodaga |first=Kazeem |date=January 25, 2019 |publisher=PM NEWS |access-date=April 22, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.tvcnews.tv/court-affirms-uche-ogah-as-apc-governorship-candidate-in-abia/ |title=Court affirms Uche Ogah as APC governorship candidate in Abia |date=January 25, 2019 |publisher=TVC News |access-date=April 27, 2021}} Ogah picked Martins Azubuike, thereafter, as his running mate.{{Cite news |url=https://dailypost.ng/2018/10/05/2019-election-abia-apc-guber-candidate-uchechukwu-ogah-adopts-ex-speaker-azubuike-running-mate/ |title=2019 election: Abia APC guber candidate, Uchechukwu Ogah adopts ex-Speaker Azubuike as running mate |date=October 5, 2018 |last=Emeruwa |first=Chijindu |publisher=Daily Post |access-date=April 22, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/10/abia-2019-uche-ogah-visits-kalu-names-martins-running-mate/amp/ |title=Abia 2019: Uche Ogah visits Kalu, names Martins running mate |date=October 5, 2018 |publisher=Vanguard |access-date=April 23, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/abia-2019-uche-ogah-visits-kalu-names-running-mate/ |title=Abia 2019: Uche Ogah visits Kalu, names running mate |date=October 5, 2018 |publisher=Sun News Online |access-date=April 23, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.ng/abia-apc-governorship-candidate-nominates-running-mate/ |title=Abia APC Governorship Candidate Nominates Running-Mate |date=Oct 5, 2018 |publisher=Independent |access-date=April 26, 2021}}

• Party nominee: Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah.
• Running mate: Martins Azubuike.
• Friday Nwosu
• Chris Akomas
• Okey Emuchey
• Paul Ikonne
• Ikechi Emenike

A total of 32 candidates registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest in the election.{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.ng/2019-gov-ikpeazu-otti-ogah-make-inec-list-of-abia-guber-candidates/ |title=2019: Gov. Ikpeazu, Otti, Ogah Make INEC List Of Abia Guber Candidates |date=March 10, 2018 |publisher=Independent |access-date=April 27, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.blueprint.ng/guber-poll-otti-ogah-dare-ikpeazu-in-abia/ |title=Guber poll: Otti, Ogah dare Ikpeazu in Abia |date=March 8, 2019 |publisher=Blueprint |access-date=April 27, 2021}} PDP Governor Okezie Ikpeazu won re-election for a second term, defeating APC Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, and several minor party candidates. Ikpeazu polled 261,127 votes representing 60.26% of total vote cast, and Ogah 99,574 votes representing 22.98%.{{Cite web |url=https://nigeriaelections.stearsng.com/state/AB/governor/2019 |title=2019 General Elections {{!}} Governorship Election Results |publisher=Stears |access-date=April 22, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/abia-guber-ikpeazu-wins/ |title=Abia guber: Ikpeazu wins |date=March 10, 2019 |publisher=Sun News Online |access-date=April 26, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://thewhistler.ng/abia-guber-ikpeazu-shows-dance-moves-over-victory-video/ |title=Abia Guber: Ikpeazu Shows Dance Moves Over Victory [VIDEO] |last=Olu |first=Tayo |date=March 11, 2019 |publisher=The Whistler |access-date=April 26, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://headtopics.com/ng/breaking-okezie-ikpeazu-wins-abia-governorship-election-full-result-daily-post-nigeria-4659338 |title=BREAKING: Okezie Ikpeazu wins Abia governorship election [FULL RESULT] - Daily Post Nigeria |date=March 10, 2019 |publisher=Head Topics |access-date=April 27, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-east/319246-pdps-ikpeazu-set-to-be-declared-winner-of-abia-governorship-election.html |title=PDP's Ikpeazu set to be declared winner of Abia governorship election |last=Eze |first=James |date=March 10, 2019 |publisher=Premium Times |access-date=April 27, 2021}} Both Ogah and Otti rejected this result.{{Cite web |url=https://m.guardian.ng/news/ikpeazu-wins-abia-guber-poll-apga-apc-reject-result/ |title=Ikpeazu wins Abia guber poll, APGA, APC reject result |last=Udeajah |first=Gordi |location=Umuahia |date=March 10, 2019 |publisher=Guardian |access-date=April 26, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/03/12/otti-ogah-reject-abia-guber-election-result/ |title=Otti, Ogah Reject Abia Guber Election Result |date=March 12, 2019 |last=Ugwu |first=Emmanuel |location=Umuahia |publisher=This Day |access-date=April 26, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.pulse.ng/news/politics/otti-ogah-others-reject-abia-guber-result/67ev07m |title=Otti, Ogah, others reject Abia guber result |date=March 10, 2019 |website=Pulse Nigeria |publisher=News Agency Of Nigeria |access-date=April 26, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.legit.ng/1226732-just-otti-ogah-reject-abia-guber-result.html |title=Results were highly tampered with in favour of Abia PDP - Otti, Ogah reject Ikpeazu's re-election |last=Ibeh |first=Nnenna |publisher=Legit.ng |access-date=April 26, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://nnn.ng/apc-apga-call-for-cancellation-of-abia-guber-poll-result/ |title=APC, APGA, call for cancellation of Abia guber poll result |date=March 10, 2019 |location=Umuahia |publisher=NNN |access-date=April 26, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://nnn.ng/otti-ogah-reject-abia-guber-result/ |title=Otti, Ogah reject Abia guber result |date=March 10, 2021 |publisher=NNN |access-date=April 26, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://thewhistler.ng/this-daylight-robbery-cant-stand-ogah-vows-to-challenge-ikpeazus-victory/ |title=This Daylight Robbery Can't Stand, Ogah Vows To Challenge Ikpeazu's Victory |last=Olu |first=Tayo |date=April 2, 2019 |publisher=The Whistler |access-date=April 26, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/07/24/abia-governorship-tribunal-inec-tenders-final-exhibits/ |title=Abia governorship tribunal: INEC tenders final exhibits |last=Olukomaiya |first=Olufunmilola |date=July 24, 2019 |publisher=PM News |access-date=April 27, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.ripplesnigeria.com/abia-apc-accuses-inec-pdp-of-manipulation-rejects-result/ |title=ABIA: APC accuses INEC, PDP of manipulation, rejects result |date=March 12, 2019 |publisher=Ripples Nigeria |access-date=April 27, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.today.ng/news/politics/abia-guber-aware-alex-ottis-petition-tribunal-apga-216078 |title=Abia guber: We are not aware of Alex Otti's petition in tribunal – APGA |last=Maduabuchi |first=Chris |date=April 26, 2019 |publisher=Today NG |access-date=April 27, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.channelstv.com/2019/03/10/otti-ogar-reject-result-of-abia-governorship-election-say-its-a-sham/ |title=Otti, Ogar Reject Result Of Abia Governorship Election, Say It's A 'Sham' |publisher=Channels TV |access-date=April 27, 2021}} Earlier on, Okezie won at the popular opinion polls.{{Cite news |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/03/poll-projects-ikpeazu-to-win-abia-election/ |title=Poll projects Ikpeazu to win Abia election |date=March 3, 2019 |last=Mbah |first=Emeka |publisher=Vanguard |access-date=April 27, 2021}}

The total number of registered voters in the state was 1,932,892.{{Cite news |url=https://www.pulse.ng/news/politics/this-is-state-by-state-breakdown-of-total-registered-voters-across-nigeria/4nr0720 |title=This is the State by State breakdown of total registered voters across Nigeria |publisher=Pulse Nigeria |access-date=April 27, 2021}} Total number of votes cast was 444,376, while total number of valid votes was 433,315. Total rejected votes were 11,061.{{Cite news |url=https://abiapulse.com/2019/03/16/abia-guber-results-nothing-to-litigate-john-okiyi-kalu/ |title=ABIA GUBER RESULTS : NOTHING TO LITIGATE – JOHN OKIYI KALU |last=Nwankwo |first=Ugochukwu |date=March 16, 2019 |publisher=Abia Pulse News |access-date=April 26, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://punchng.com/gov-results-ikpeazu-wins-re-election-bid-in-abia/ |title=Gov results: Ikpeazu wins re-election bid in Abia |date=March 10, 2019 |publisher=Punch |access-date=April 27, 2021}} There we're low voters' turnout.{{Cite news |url=https://m.guardian.ng/politics/how-more-than-70-of-registered-voters-were-disenfranchised-in-abia/amp/ |title=How more than 70% of registered voters were disenfranchised in Abia |last=Muanya |first=Chukwuma |date=March 6, 2019 |work=The Guardian |access-date=April 27, 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.pulse.ng/news/politics/guber-elections-low-voter-turnout-in-south-east/jgsp0n9 |title=Guber elections: Low voter turnout in South East |date=March 9, 2019 |website=Pulse Nigeria |publisher=News Agency Of Nigeria |access-date=April 27, 2021}}

{{Election results

|cand1=Okezie Victor Ikpeazu|party1=People's Democratic Party (PDP)|votes1=261127

|cand2=Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah|party2=All Progressives Congress (APC)|votes2=99574

|cand3=Alex Otti|party3=All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)|votes3=64366

|cand4=Hon. (Mrs) Blessing Nwagba|party4=Social Democratic Party (SDP)|votes4=2191

|cand5=Okoronkwo Fortunes Paul|party5=Providence People’s Congress (PPC)|votes5=1044

|cand6=Chukwudi Nnabugwu|party6=People's Party of Nigeria (PPN)|votes6=624

|cand7=Okey Okoro Udo|party7=Action Democratic Party (ADP)|votes7=522

|cand8=Igara Ceekay Kalu|party8=Labour Party (LP)|votes8=520

|cand9=Madu Anthony Chukwuonye|party9=People for Democratic Change (PDC)|votes9=442

|cand10=Obinna Kelenna|party10=African Democratic Congress (ADC)|votes10=333

|cand11=Igwo Nnanna Okpan|party11=All Grassroots Alliance (AGA)|votes11=293

|cand12=Orji Kingsley|party12=Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)|votes12=291

|cand13=Ulunwa Utokannandu Morgan|party13=Alliance National Party (ANP)|votes13=289

|cand14=Ubani Vincent Anthony|party14=African Action Congress (AAC)|votes14=254

|cand15=Onuoha Uko Igwe|party15=All Grand Alliance Party (AGAP)|votes15=247

|cand16=Opara Alphonsius Obinna|party16=Advanced Congress of Democracts (ACD)|votes16=166

|cand17=Francis Onugu Ukwu|party17=United Progressive Party (UPP)|votes17=151

|cand18=Umeh Charles Okezi|party18=Action Peoples Party (APP)|votes18=138

|cand19=Udeagha Rose Uzoaru|party19=Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN)|votes19=124

|cand20=Benson Chibunna Onyekachi|party20=Kowa Party (KP)|votes20=102

|cand21=Nkoro Joseph Ngozi

|party21=Young Progressive Party (YPP)|votes21=100

|cand22=Ahaiwe Udochukwu Elvis|party22=Restoration Party of Nigeria (RP)|votes22=89

|cand23=Awa Ezekiel Anya|party23=People's Trust (PT)|votes23=53

|cand24=Emeka Uwakolam|party24=Accord (A)|votes24=43

|cand25=Charles Okechukwu Okereke|party25=Justice Must Prevail Party (JMPP)|votes25=40

|cand26=Gilbert Chikezie Chris|party26=Independent Democrats (ID)|votes26=38

|cand27=Chijioke Owanta|party27=Alliance of Social Democrats (ASD)|votes27=35

|cand28=Annyalewachi Nwaozuru|party28=Green Party of Nigeria (GPN)|votes28=33

|cand29=Michael Imojo Ndu|party29=Alliance for a United Nigeria (AUN)|votes29=29

|cand30=Paul Chinedu Emmanuel|party30=Fresh Democratic Party (FRESH)|votes30=22

|cand31=Chinwuba Queen Edith

Asikaralinoun|party31=Change Advocacy Party (CAP)|votes31=21

|cand32=Obasi Heavens Ugochukwu|party32=Democratic Alternative (DA)|votes32=14

|-

|invalid=11061

|electorate=1932892

|source=INEC{{Cite news |url=https://www.inecnigeria.org/2019-governorship-election-results/ |title=2019 Governorship Elections Results |publisher=INEC |access-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-date=April 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410220834/https://www.inecnigeria.org/2019-governorship-election-results/ |url-status=dead }}

}}

Here are the results of the election from the local government areas of the state for the two major parties. The total valid votes of 433,315 represents the 32 political parties that participated in the election. Green represents LGAs won by Ikpeazu. Blue represents LGAs won by Ogah. White represents LGAs won by Otti.{{Cite news |url=https://dailypost.ng/2019/03/10/breaking-okezie-ikpeazu-wins-abia-governorship-election-full-result/?amp |title=Okezie Ikpeazu wins Abia governorship election [FULL RESULT] |date=March 10, 2019 |last=Jannah |first=Chijioke |publisher=Daily Post |access-date=April 23, 2021}}

{{reflist}}

{{2019 Nigeria elections}}

{{Elections in Abia State}}

{{Nigerian state and local elections}}

{{Authority control}}

Abia State

Abia State gubernatorial election

2019

Gubernatorial