The immediate past Rivers State Accountant-General, Siminialayi Fubara, who was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for his involvement in N435 billion fraud, has emerged the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 General Election.

Fubara, who hails from Opobo-Nkoro Local Government Area, scored 721 votes to defeated 15 other aspirants with Isaac Kamalu coming a distant second with 86 votes.

EFCC had declared Fubara and 58 others wanted in the alleged fraud with the former Accountant General and four others particularly wanted for suspected N117 billion fraud, alleged criminal conspiracy, money laundering, misappropriation of public funds, and abuse of office.

The spokesperson of the Commission, Wilson Uwujaren, had called on the general public to assist in apprehending the Accountant-General and other suspects.

Uwujaren said, “We call on anyone with useful information as to the whereabouts of the Account-General to contact any of the Agency’s offices or the nearest police station or other security agencies.”

As at the time of filling this report, it was not clear whether the wanted candidate of the PDP was present at the primary ground, but the outgoing governor of the State, Nyesom Wike, was on ground.

The Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Prof. Walter Mbotu, declared Fubara the winner of the election, while Felix obua got 2 votes, David Brigs 4, West Morgan 4, Tammy Danagogo 36 and George Kelly 37, others scored zero vote.

About 898 delegates assembled at the Dr. Obi Wali Conference Centre, the venue of the primary election to vote for their preferred aspirants.

Mbotu said out of 980 expected delegates, 898 were accredited to vote while 8 votes were voided.

A team of Electoral officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission also monitored the process.

Some major aspirants such as a former state Chairman of PDP, Felix Obua and former Secretary to State Government (SSG), Tammy Danagogo; Senator Thompson Sekibo, Austin Opara, Senator Lee Maeba were not in attendance, but some others like the Commissioner for Finance, Isaac Kamalu and Special Adviser, Special Project, George Kelly and the only female aspirant, Abbie Atedoghu were present at the venue.

Delegates were called by the Electoral committee according to their local government areas and they filed out to cast their votes in designated ballot boxes.

Mbotu, earlier promised to ensure a free, fair and transparent process as he advised delegates to comport themselves.

Chairman of PDP, Amb. Desmond Akawor, said the governorship primary would bring to an end series of activities to elect candidates of the party for the general elections.

Akawor expressed happiness that the process from delegate election to House of Assembly and National Assembly primaries had been successful.