By Benson Ezugwu

Enugu, July 2, 2022

Mr. Chijioke Edeoga on Saturday emerged the new gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party (LP) replacing the earlier candidate, Mr. Casmir Agbo.

The State Chairman of the party, Agbo, who was the former candidate, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview in Enugu.

“I can tell you authoritatively that Edeoga is now our candidate. You can go to press with that,” he said.

Edeoga, who lost the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary, was the immediate past commissioner for Environment in the present administration of Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

He polled nine votes to come second behind the winner, Mr. Peter Mba, who polled over 700 votes.

Agbo said the decision to pick Edeoga as his replacement was taken at an enlarged State Executive meeting of the party on Saturday.

It would be recalled that Agbo was earlier elected at a primary held in Enugu and then doubled as State chairman.

Additional reports:

Before Edeoga’s appointment as Commissioner for Environment by Gov. Ugwuanyi, he had served as the state’s Commissioner for Local Government Matters and is credited with repositioning the ministry for efficiency to the admiration of all.

His era at the Ministry, is said to have witnessed a more proactive local government system in the state as was his earlier tenure as the council Chairman of Isi-Uzo LGA.

He was elected to represent Enugu East-Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives after his stint as Council Chairman and chaired the House Committee on Information.

He read Law in London and after Nigeria Law School, went further to obtain a Master’s Degree in Law.

A former Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters to President Goodluck Jonathan, Hon. Edeoga, before veering into politics was a practicing journalist. He worked in some newspapers, such as the Daily Star and New Outlook. He also founded Enugu Local Government News.

He hails from Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo LGA in Enugu East senatorial zone where the state governorship is presently zoned to.