A leading contender for the Peoples Democratic Party governorship ticket in Enugu State, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, says he is optimistic that he will emerge victorious at the primaries slated for next month.
Udeh who was screened Thursday at the PDP Zonal Office in Enugu said he was in the contest to win.
“I am running to win. I represent the hopes and aspirations of the youths and citizens of Enugu State, including those in the diaspora. I have the capacity, experience and passion to consolidate on the legacies and achievements of our Governor, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.”
Speaking after the exercise, Udeh commended the screening process which he described as peaceful, stating that he met up with all the requirements for one running for the office of Governor.
According to him, “I know I have all it takes to win this race and to build on the ideals of Gov. Ugwuanyi, especially having received his mentorship, first as his Senior Special Assistant and later, his Special Adviser.”
Udeh who was initially regarded as a dark horse, has emerged a major contender for the ticket.
Udeh who hails from Ozalla in Nkanu West LGA of Enugu State, was a Senior Special Assistant on Development Aid Coordination & Mobilization and later Special Adviser on Education to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.
Dr. Udeh who is just 42 years old, is a world-renowned Development Expert who possesses impressive academic qualifications and wide-ranging experience in governance.
He has spent several years working as a Consultant to several international development organizations. Among them are the UNICEF, UNDP, the World Bank, African Development Bank, FCDO and UK Department for International Development (DFID).
He was first appointed as Senior Special Assistant on Development Aids, handling the state’s international finance partnerships. From there, he moved to become the Focal Person of the Enugu State Open Government Partnership (a multi stakeholders’ good governance platform) before he was again appointed Special Adviser on Education to the Governor.
A strong advocate of zoning of the governorship position in Enugu state, he believes that zoning has ensured equity, justice and a seamless rotation of the governorship position from one senatorial zone to the other, beginning from Enugu East in 1999, to Enugu West in 2007 and then presently Enugu North in 2015. According to him, it is only reasonable that zoning should continue with the choice of Enugu East in 2023.
He is an alumnus of the College of the Immaculate Conception (CIC) Enugu, holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Nigeria, a Master of Laws Degree (Nottingham, Uk) and Doctor of Laws (LLD/Ph.D) from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.
He has lectured in the Law Faculties of Baze University, Abuja, and the University of Nigeria, Enugu, as well as in the Nigerian Law School.
