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Prof. Anthony Okorie, a distinguished professor in Agricultural Extension Administration at the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), has clinched the candidacy for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming Ebonyi South Senatorial District bye-election on February 4.
Prof. Okorie secured a resounding victory, garnering 281 votes out of 285 accredited voters during the primary election held at Afikpo local government headquarters in Ebonyi State. Dr Akin Awodeyi Akinsehinwe, the returning officer, announced the peaceful conduct of the election and attributed its success to the harmonization efforts by the party stakeholders within the senatorial district.
The professor, a native of Onicha Local Government Area in the state, emerged as the sole candidate following a harmonization meeting convened on Friday. This meeting, facilitated by the state Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru, saw the unanimous support of interested parties, stakeholders, and aspirants for Prof. Okorie.
The bye-election in Ebonyi South senatorial district was necessitated by the resignation of Sen. David Umahi, a former governor of the state, who stepped down from the Senate to assume the role of Minister of Work.
Expressing his gratitude for the victory, Prof. Okorie deemed it a miracle and pledged to bring his agricultural expertise to the Senate, promising to contribute significantly to the advancement of the agricultural sector if elected.