The Ebonyi State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC), zoned the vacant Ebonyi South Senate seat to Onicha Local Government Area of the state.
Austin Umahi, the younger brother to minister of works, David Umahi, had declared interest in the position, reports The Nation.
The elder Umahi, who is the immediate former governor of the state, had resigned as the senator representing the zone upon his appointment as minister by President Bola Tinubu.
Following his resignation, the Senate declared the seat vacant and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) pursuant to the relevant provisions of the laws to conduct rerun election to fill the vacant seat.
INEC, therefore, fixed February next year for a bye-election while the APC and opposition Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) fixed their primaries for January next year.
The State Working Committee of the party at a meeting yesterday said it zoned the position to Onicha Local Government Area.
The Umahis hail from neighbouring Ohaozara Local Government Area.
The younger Umahi was also the director of Governor Francis Nwifuru’s divine mandate campaign council.
In a statement, the party noted that nature abhors vacuum, hence, the need to replace the vacant position by the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ebonyi South senatorial district.
It noted that the decision was in tandem with the position of the leader of the party in the state, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru on the issue.
The party said that Onicha is the only local government in the zone without any juicy political office.
It stated: “The leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Ebonyi state, having exemplified himself in leadership embodied in equity, justice and fairness and such leadership prowess worth following and emulation”
“Going by the current distribution of political positions in Ebonyi south zone, it is only Onicha LGA that has no exalted/juicy political position of honour unlike the other LGAs of the zone, which have the following positions:
“Afikpo North LGA—Deputy Governor and House of Representatives, Edda LGA— APC State Party Chairman; Ivo LGA —- House of Representatives; Ohaozara LGA—- Minister, INEC REC & SSA to Mr President;Onicha LGA— None”
“It is in the interest of justice, equity and fairness as envisaged by the leader of our great Party that the vacant seat of Ebonyi South Senatorial District be zoned to Onicha LGA of Ebonyi State”
“The State Working Committee (SWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ebonyi State is in total alignment with the decisions of the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru in ensuring that equity, justice and fairness is the cornerstone of this administrative principles”
“The State Working Committee (SWC) of APC, Ebonyi State is in tandem with the leader’s philosophy in ensuring peace and peaceful coexistence in all nooks and crannies in Ebonyi State”
“That in the interest of justice, equity and fairness characterized in Rt Hon Bldr Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s APC led government, the vacant Ebonyi South Senatorial position be zoned to Onicha LGA of Ebonyi state.
“That the State Working Committee of All Progressives Congress (APC), Ebonyi State is in unalloyed support and solidarity with the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State in all his people-oriented decisions in ensuring equity and justice prevail in all sphere of Ebonyi.”
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