Prof. Anthony Okorie, a professor of Agricultural Extension Administration at the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), on Saturday, emerged as the candidate of the Ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for Ebonyi South Senatorial District in the February 4 bye-election after polling 281 votes out of 285 accredited voters.
Ebonyi South’s senatorial bye-election came due to the resignation of Sen. David Umahi, a former state governor, from the Senate to serve as Minister of Work.
Recall that Austin Umahi, the younger brother of David Umahi, the Minister of Works, December, declared his interest to contest the forthcoming bye-election in Ebonyi South Senatorial District following the resignation of Umahi from the Senate to take up the ministerial appointment.
Addressing a press conference in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi, the younger Umahi, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said he would give constituents of Ebonyi South “good representation”.
He said, “I will give the people the best representation, having gained experiences from both the business and political sectors.
“I am a pencil in the hands of God, and he is not done with me.
“We are in a democratic dispensation, and I want all my supporters to pray for the success of both the primary and re-run elections.
However, Dr Akin Awodeyi Akinsehinwe, the returning officer, while announcing the result at Afikpo local government headquarters of Ebonyi State, said the election was very peaceful while attributing the success of the exercise to the harmonisation reached by the stakeholders of the party from the senatorial district.
He said, “I was only sent by the national leadership of APC to conduct the primary, and the level of the consciousness seen today shows that APC is a peaceful party, and that is why the election was very free and fair.”
Prof. Okorie hails from Onicha Local Government Area of the state.
Ebonyi South’s senatorial bye-election came due to the resignation of Sen. David Umahi, a former state governor, from the Senate to serve as Minister of Work.
Reacting, Okorie said his victory was a miracle and promised to bring agricultural ingenuity to the Senate if elected.