Ebonyi South Bye-Election: Why Former Gov Umahi Preferred Prof Ani As APC Senatorial Candidate-LP Candidate

The Labour Party Senatorial Candidate for the February 3 Ebonyi South Senatorial Bye-election, Hon Linus Abaa Okorie yesterday alleged that the choice of Prof Anthony Ani as the All Progressives Congress APC Candidate for the Bye-election by the former Governor of the State, Sen David Umahi was to impose someone who he can easily force out of the Senate when he eventually leaves President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet as minister.

Hon Okorie made the disclosure yesterday at his country home in Onicha when the people of Onicha Local Government Area organized a grand reception for him ahead of the Senatorial bye-election.

The two time House of Representatives member maintained that Sen Umahi preferred the choice of a less experienced Prof Ani against the more experienced politicians like Prof Chigozie Ogbu, a Former Deputy Governor, Barr. Val Okike-Uzo, a current Commissioner and former House of Assembly member and Hon Ogbonnia Okorie who is also a current Commissioner in the State.

“it is a statement of fact that the Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon Francis Nwifuru made it clear that the Senatorial ticket of their party APC has been rezoned to Onicha LGA from Ohaozara where Sen David Umahi hails from. Rt. Hon Nwifuru had insisted that the former Governor will determine who the choice candidate will be.

“In the process, from what we gathered, three names were shortlisted by him and in those , he put the current candidate, Prof Ani as number one and added two others there. But Prof Ani never indicated any interest, he has never been a politician and has never shown any interest or volution around politics. He is a serving Professor in FUTO who indeed I gave the job in 2013.

“He has been doing quite well. As at 28th December 2023, he never indicated interest. Meanwhile, Prof Chigozie Ogbu, former Deputy Governor indicated interest and came out openly. Hon Val Okike-Uzo, a current Commissioner indicated interest, Ogbonnia Okorie a current Commissioner also indicated interest, these are people with political experience within Onicha clan.

“The former Governor overlooked all of them and chose Prof Ani and if you remember, we have only about three years left in the National Assembly effectively, the leadership of the Assembly has been formed, the committee system has been formed, taking a person without any political and legislative experience to the Senate is a deceit to the people of Onicha.

“What it entails is that the people of Onicha are not given the opportunity to bring somebody with capacity, competent politically to take advantage of the position and we have heard in good authorities that during the APC stakeholders meeting, Prof Ani was told that, the former Governor wanted somebody who will relinquish the position to him when he eventually leaves President Bola Tinubu cabinet.

“The question was put to him, that will he resign when asked to and he answered yes that he will resign the position for Sen Umahi when he is asked to do so. That is deceit. You don’t share elective political position as if you are sharing Akara and determines when to take it back. That is deceit on Onicha people. Making our people believe that he is supporting them while it is total deceit.

“Sen Umahi thinks that by doing so, he will divide the vote of Onicha people. It is on record that I defeated him even in his local government and all his antics has been exposed and I am going to win the election.

Hon Okorie accused the Chairman of Onicha Local Government, Hon Chidebere Uzor of importing thugs from the Niger Delta ahead of the election adding that a security report has already been sent to security agencies to investigate the report and arrest the thugs.

“As we speak, the local government Chairman of Onicha, Hon Chidiebere Uzor has imported thugs from Niger Delta which he did the last time which led to the death of someone. We have already reported to the security agencies. We want to assure them that if anyone is killed, the people won’t go free because Onicha is a holy land.

The Senatorial Candidate warned the youths against being used as political thugs and expressed the sadness that some politicians can never do politics without thuggery and violence.

“Any leader who will use you as a thug doesn’t love your father, doesn’t love your mother and also doesn’t love you. My advice to the youths is to steer clear of such politicians. If anyone wants to use you as a thug, reject it and pull out.

He expressed regret over the death of One Oyibo Chukwu who was brutally murdered during the last election and maintained that the perpetrators of the act will never go unpunished.

“We have the case of Oyibo Chukwu who was killed in 2023. He is still in the mortuary. Those who murdered him may think they have gone unpunished but I want to remind them today that they will never go unpunished.