Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has been declared winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ebonyi South Senatorial rerun after scoring 250 votes to beat his closest rival, Augustine Chukwu Umahi who got 10 votes.
Chairman of the five-man Electoral Committee, Professor Emmanuel Adebayo Kayode made this declaration at Afikpo North Local Government Area headquarters, venue of the primary.
Kayode disclosed that the election expected to be contested by five cleared aspirants were later contested by four aspirants as Mrs Ann Nwanyibuife Agom-Eze boycotted the election.
According to him, a total of 275 votes were cast; 268 votes were valid while 7 were invalid.
“Austin Chukwu Umahi scored 10 votes; Ann Agom Eze 0; David Umahi scored 250 votes; Ibiam Margret 3 votes; Mrs. Chukwu Elizabeth Nwakeago 5 votes.
“Based on the powers bestowed on me, I declare Umahi winner of the election having scored 250 and is hereby returned as winner.”
The election which was held amid tight security was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Governor Umahi in his acceptance speech, thanked his supporters for their solidarity, described his ticket as ‘a very strong one’ and commended other candidates for their participation.
“This ticket is a very strong ticket. I thank all of you for your solidarity. I accept this honour done to me by God. I have fought battles all my life and I have won all of them.”
APC Chairman in the State, Chief Stanley Okoroemegha described the election as free and fair.
This was the third time the primary for the senatorial zone would hold following an order of the Federal High Court in Abakaliki which voided the second election and ordered that a fresh APC Senatorial Primary Election be held in the District to accommodate Mr Agomeze.
After Umahi lost the APC presidential ticket to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the party cancelled the senatorial primary for Ebonyi South which was won by Austin. Another primary was held on June 9, during which Austin withdrew and Umahi reportedly contested unopposed and won.
However, although the APC had listed Umahi as its senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South, he was excluded when INEC published the list of candidates for the 2023 elections.
The governor, through his counsel, Roy Nweze, filed a suit against INEC at the Federal High Court asking the court to compel the electoral body to recognise him as the senatorial candidate for the district.
In its ruling, the court threw out the governor’s suit and ordered INEC to conduct a fresh primary within 14 days for the senatorial district.
Meanwhile, Ann Agom-Eze who came second in the May 28, senatorial primary had appealed the ruling of the court.
In a statement yesterday, Agom-Eze said she boycotted the fresh primary because there was an appeal for stay of execution on the matter.
She said, “I’m looking forward to the judgment of the Court of Appeal as a law-abiding citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and I am confident that the court will do justice.”
