Osborne Umahi, son of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, yesterday, secured the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State to become the party’s flag bearer for the chairmanship seat in Ohaozara Local Government Area, in the upcoming local government elections in the state.
Umahi went unopposed at the party’s primary election held at Obiozara, Headquarters of the Local Government Area in Uburu.
Osborne garnered all 55 votes cast by accredited delegates from the 11 wards of the local government area.
Announcing the result, the Deputy Chairman of APC in Ebonyi State and Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Mr Alphonsus Nwali, said the exercise was peaceful and transparent and was carried out in line with the party’s electoral guidelines.
His words: “the total number of accredited voters is 55, total votes cast was 55 valid votes, 55, with zero invalid votes.”
“Osborne Nweze Umahi has been declared winer of the APC primary election in Ohaozara Local Government Area, having secured the highest number of votes cast in the election.”
He recalled that during the screening exercise, one out of the two aspirants that who purchased forms, failed to present a valid e-registration membership card of the party, paving th way for only one qualified aspirant.
Nwali, therefore, commended the people of Ohaozara for their consistent support for the APC in previous national and state elections, and assured them that the party would continue to promote internal democracy and produce leaders capable of delivering meaningful development.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Osborne Umahi thanked
President Bola Tinubu for what he described as unprecedented infrastructure development in Ebonyi State and the South-East, and expressed gratitude to Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for supporting his candidacy.
He said, “our administration will focus on rural road development, especially roads leading to farmlands and markets, to ease agricultural production and trade.”
“We will establish cottage agricultural centres, promote mechanised farming, empower our youths and ensure access to potable water across Ohaozara.”
He also pledged to work with security agencies to make the area one of the safest local government areas in the country.
Addressing the people shortly after the election, the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, expressed confidence in his son’s leadership capacity and urged them to support him.
“He will open up all the roads in our villages, roads to the farmlands and the markets. He will establish agricultural clusters, empower the youths and ensure that Ohaozara experiences sustainable development,” Umahi said.
The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Mr Francis Ori, in an interview, described the APC primary as a reflection of Osborne Umahi’s wide acceptance across party lines.
The commissioner said:”members of the opposition parties in the state are joining APC, because they believe in his capacity and policies.That is why you can see that the people have unanimously thrown their weight behind him.”
In a remark, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, Southeast, Barrister Chioma Nweze, observed that the primary election was free, fair and devoid of violence.
Osborne, clad in white attire, leading the pack of voters.
According to her, “there was intimidation, violence and no insecurity. Every interested party was given a fair opportunity, and the process was transparent.”
she said that expectations were high for the chairmanship candidate to prioritise road construction and community development.
The Southeast Zonal Treasurer of APC, Mr Itapa Azobo, who led a national delegation of the party from Abuja, said his team observed the process and was satisfied with the conduct of the primary.
Azobo said, “we have observed keenly and everything done here were in order. We congratulate Osborne Nweze Umahi and we are confident that he will do marvellous things in Ohaozara Local Government Area.”
Some APC stakeholders and supporters who were on hand to monitor the election, said the exercise was peaceful, orderly and transparent.
