By Enyim Enyim

ONITSHA—Former Minister of Water and Transport, Prince John Emeka has emerged winner of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primaries in Anambra North senatorial zone. At the parallel primaries, conducted through option A4 format, he polled 301 votes to beat Chief Sam Ikefuna, who polled 57 votes.

Former Aviation Minister, Stella Odua; Senator Joy Emordi and Senator Margery Okadigbo recorded no vote.

The Returning Officer, Mr. Ben Udozor, who declared Prince Emeka winner, said he was at the venue to conduct the primaries following a judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja that declared the Oguebego-led state PDP executive as the authentic one.

The primaries, held amidst tight security and supervised by seven officers of the Independent National Elec-toral Commission, INEC.

Udozor said INEC decided to use option A4 to ensure transparency and ensure that there was no protest or complaints after the exercise.

Speaking to reporters after the primaries, Prince Emeka thanked the people of Anambra North senatorial zone PDP for voting for him and promised that he would give them quality representation if elected into the National Assembly in 2015.

According to him, “if given your mandate, I will respect the wishes of the people and will give you good representation. Anambra north has been yawning for a credible leadership in the past, but today you have got it.”

He said the parallel primaries that declared former Odua winner was unconstitutional and illegal as the Oguebego executive had been declared the authentic executive of the party.