ABUJA — Chief Sampson Nnamani has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State after defeating former Minister of Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, by a landslide 7,542 votes to 121 in the party’s primary election.
The result strengthens Nnamani’s grip on the PDP ahead of the 2027 governorship election and marks a major setback for Nnaji, who sought to rebuild his political base in Enugu after serving in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
The declaration of the result drew applause from delegates and party officials as the PDP Returning Officer for the exercise, High Chief Wisdom Okoye, announced that the primary was conducted across the 17 local government areas of the state in line with the party’s constitution and guidelines approved by the National Working Committee, NWC.
Okoye said: “A total number of accredited votes was 7,663. Chief Sampson Chukwu Nnamani scored a total of 7,542 votes while Chief Uche Godfrey Nnaji scored 121 votes.
“Accordingly, having scored the highest number of valid votes cast, Chief Sampson Chukwu Nnamani is hereby declared the winner of the PDP governorship primary election and returned as the duly elected candidate of the PDP for the forthcoming governorship election in Enugu State.”
Describing the exercise as orderly and transparent, Okoye said delegates freely exercised their democratic rights throughout the process.
“It was a transparent exercise conducted in line with our constitution and guidelines of our great party. The delegates exercised their democratic rights in an atmosphere of peace and orderliness,” he said.
In his acceptance speech, Nnamani thanked delegates for what he described as a democratic and rancour-free exercise and commended the PDP leadership at both the national and state levels for ensuring a smooth process.
He also reached out to Nnaji and his supporters as the party begins preparations for the 2027 governorship election, saying: “You (Nnaji) are a good man and I invite you to come over so that together, we can achieve victory in 2027.”
