Four leading political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) are gearing up again for the February 3, 2024 senatorial by-election for Ebonyi south in Ebonyi state.
Ebonyi south senatorial constituency is made up of five local councils including Afoikpo south, Afoikpo north, Ivo, Ohaozara and Onicha councils.
During the February 18, 2023 election, immediate past governor of the state, Dave Umahi represented the APC; Linus Okorie a two-time member of the House of Representatives for Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo federal constituency represented the LP; Senator Amah Nnachi, the former occupant of the seat, representing the PDP and Ifeanyi Eleje, a seasoned administrator for the APGA.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the seat vacant following the resignation of former governor, Umahi, who was declared winner of the election. Umahi preferred to serve as Minister. In the same guise, the leadership of the senate also declared the seat vacant.
Umahi had vacated the seat following his nomination as Minister by President Bola Tinubu as Minister of Works. But issues surrounding the senatorial seat had been a subject of controversy among the contestants as petitions had been raised against Umahi who was declared its winner.
The candidates had protested the conduct of the election that gave Umahi victory as grossly compromised and called for its nullification.
They had dragged the APC and Umahi to court over the outcome of the exercise on the ground that Umahi who was declared winner did not score majority of valid votes cast in the election.
They had further claimed over voting in some polling units and that the number of collected Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in the areas where elections were cancelled outnumbered the margin of win in the results declared by INEC.
Few weeks ago however, the National and State House of Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal had upheld the election of Umahi, saying that he did not only garner the required votes but that the petitioners failed to prove their matter beyond reasonable doubt.
Although those who contested against Umahi in the election had rejected the ruling of the tribunal as “unjust, unconstitutional and unwarranted judgment”, and indicated interest to appeal it, it was however, on the strength of the development that the INEC is planning the February 3, 2024 by-election.
Meanwhile activities around the four leading political parties indicate that they are seriously gearing up for the by-election with release of either the timeline for the primary or fees for the exercise.
Nwoba Nwoba, the spokesperson of the PDP in the state told The Guardian that already the party leadership had agreed to hold her primary on January 3 – 4, 2024 to elect a credible candidate that would stand for the election in the senatorial zone.
He stated that though the last ticket holder, Amah Nnachi had shown tremendous interest to retain the ticket, it was not automatic.
“We are planning the primary in January and that means getting ready for the by-election. We think that anyone that wins the primary should represent the party. We know that Senator Nnachi has shown serious commitment to remain the candidate but that has to be decided by a proper primary that may involve other aspirants,” he said.
Nwoba hinted that the party was desirous at ensuring it paraded the best in the election as a sign that, it is the number one party for the people of Ebonyi state.
The National Leadership of the LP on the other hand has released time table and schedule of activities for the contestants for the vacant offices in the senatorial, House of Representatives and State Assemblies.
National Secretary of the party, Umar Ibrahim, stated that collection of forms commenced December 28, 2023, nd woud end on January 4, 2024 for the primaries that would hold on January 7, 2024.
Okorie
Snippets available to The Guardian showed the party in Ebonyi state is more disposed to Okorie retaining the ticket based on his performance in the February, 2023 exercise, and his unrelenting effort to use the judiciary to restore justice for the poll.
Okorie had garnered 25,496 votes to place second position in the election won by Umahi with 28,378 votes.
“I think he is more acceptable to the people of the area, having served two times in the House of Reps as well as his political exposure. It will also be an encouragement for the time and resources in advancing the course of justice for the LP in court”, a chieftain of the party, Chief Obasi Nwankwo sid,
Although the APC, the ruling party in the state is confident that it would win again, what has become uphill on its way is how to navigate the emerging challenge posed by its desire to ensure equity, justice and fairness in the distribution of offices, especially elected and appointive positions.
Towards this end, the party leadership in the state had met last week and resolved to zone the senatorial ticket for Ebonyi south to Onicha local government council.
State Chairman of the party, Stanley Emegha said that the decision was taken because of the five local governments in Ebonyi south (Afoikpo north, Ohaozara, Edda, Ivo and Onicha). Onicha was the only one without appointed or elected officials.
“Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone is made up of five local government areas, and out of the five, Ohaozara council is where the Minister of Works, INEC REC, and SSA to President hail from.
Afikpo North produced the deputy governor and a member of the House of Representatives. Edda council has the State Party Chairman, while Ivo council produced a member of the House of Representatives. Onicha council has no high-profile politicians or public officeholders.
“It was on this premise that the leadership of APC in Ebonyi State decided to zone the senatorial seat of the party to Onicha LGA, following the resignation of David Umahi, who is now the minister of works.
“It is in the interest of justice, equity, and fairness, as envisaged by the leaders of our great party, that the vacant seat of Ebonyi South Senatorial District be zoned to Onicha LGA of Ebonyi State,” he had read from a statement.
The position of the party did not go down well with Chief Austin Umahi, the younger brother of Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, who had gone ahead to declare interest in vying in the election.
The younger Umahi insisted that the ticket had earlier been zoned to Ohaozara local government, adding that in a democratic dispensation, the people reserved the right of choice.
He said: “True democratic process is the only way to ensure the emergence of an acceptable senator for the district. 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. I am from Ohaozara Local Government Area and that is where APC Ebonyi zoning committee zoned the senatorial seat. I am not contesting for personal gains but for the people as it is the time to make a positive mark
“I intend to change the narrative and the district should be given an opportunity to elect a representative in a transparent manner,” he said.
Recall that younger Umahi was actually the original holder of the ticket of the senatorial zone for the APC. His supporters insist that reassigning the senatorial ticket to another zone was like changing the goal post in the middle of a match, stressing that the election was not allowed “to run its full course for the hasty decision to be taken.”
The younger Umahi had relinquished the ticket to older Umahi after his futile attempt at the presidential primary of the party. Younger Umahi was then quoted to have said his decision to relinquish the ticket was basically in the interest of the people and to someone “more experienced and better prepared for leadership.”
Will the Minister attempt to pull the strings to repay his brother who sacrificed for him when it mattered most or allow the sleeping dog to have a good rest?
Sources said that the elder Umahi (Minister) has remained aloof to his brother’s quest, adding, however, that in order not to run contrary to the interest (Minister), the state leadership had offered him a free hand to “anoint” anyone he so desired for the senatorial ticket from Onicha local government council.
Umahi
But Minister Umahi had during a recent visit to Governor Francis Nwifuru said publicly that “I have right to choose who will succeed me”, a statement that attracted so much backlash from the state.
Those who have followed developments within the APC however, believes that something must be done fast to nip it in the bud, even as they urged the younger Umahi to accept the position of the party in the interest of peace and equity.
“He cannot gun to become a senator when his elder brother is a minister and we are talking about the same political party. He missed his chances when he decided to relinquish the ticket to his elder brother who abandoned it for ministerial position.
“It is unthinkable for even the minister to come back to begin to talk of how he will nominate his successor. That is undemocratic. He should allow members of the party to do their thing. Why do they like to capitalize on every opportunity to show power? Anybody in politics believes he has opportunity to serve others”, a party chieftain, George Nwoebonyi said.
