Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
Abuja based Lawyer and former state chairman of the PDP in Ebonyi State, Silas Onu, has emerged as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for next month’s bye-election for Ebonyi South senatorial zone.
The Chairman of the electoral Committee, Lekan Rotimi declared that Mr Onu garnered 143 votes out of the 144 votes cast while one vote was declared invalid.
The other candidate, Senator Ama Nnachi, scored zero vote.
Mr Ama Nnachi represented the zone from 2019 to 2023.
He was the candidate of the party for the 2023 general election but lost to former Governor David Umahi.
The primary election held at the party’s Afikpo Local Government Secretariat on Monday.
The election was monitored by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials.
The seat became vacant following the appointment of Senator David Umahi as Minister by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Onu commended the electoral committee for an unbiased officiating of the election.
He thanked the delegates for electing him to fly the party’s flag.
The candidate further called on all party members to support him to win the election even as he expressed confidence that he will emerge victorious.
Mr Onu will contest for the seat with All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Anthony Ani, who emerged at the weekend from the party’s own primaries.
The other major opposition party, Labour Party however produced two candidates from two parallel primaries on Sunday.
They are Linus Okorie, a former House of Representatives member and one Mr Nwabueze Nwachukwu.
The election comes up on February 3, 2024.