Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday took a decision to zone the vacant Ebonyi South Senate seat to Onicha Local Government Area.
This is despite the fact that, Austin Umahi, the younger brother to Minister of Works, David Umahi has declared interest for the position.
The Elder Umahi, the immediate former governor of the state, had resigned as the Senator representing the zone upon his appointment as Minister by President Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
Following his resignation, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Laws and the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio declared the seat vacant.
INEC also fixed February next year for a bye-election while the APC and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), fixed their primaries for January next year.
The State Working Committee of the party at a meeting on Tuesday 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.
They noted that the decision was in tandem with the stand of the leader of the party in the state, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, on the issue.
They noted that Onicha is the only local government in the zone without any juicy political office.
They said: “The leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Ebonyi State , having exemplified himself in leadership embodied in equity, justice and fairness, and such leadership prowess is worth its 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. Bldr 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 characterised 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 spheres of Ebonyi,” they said.
