A university don, Prof. Anthony Okorie Ani, has emerged as the Ebonyi South senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The APC primary election which took place at the council headquarters of Afikpo North LGA, witnessed a heavy presence of security operatives who condoned the area to avert crisis and breakdown of laws and order.

Ani, who hails from the Onicha Local Government Area of the state, is a Professor of Agricultural Extension at the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State.

Ani was elected as the Ebonyi south senatorial candidate of APC in the forthcoming bye-election taking place on 4th February 2024. He will fill the vacant position in the Senate as a result of the resignation of David Umahi to become the Minister of Works if he emerges victorious.

The chairman of the electoral committee/ returning officer of APC, Mr. Akin Akin-Sehiinwa, said that the Ani scored a total of 281 votes out of the 285 total votes cast in the bye-election.

According to him: “Prof. Anthony Okorie Ani, having scored the high vote cast in the Ebonyi south senatorial Zone bye-election, is hereby declared winner and returned as the senatorial candidate of APC in Ebonyi State.”

The state chairman of the party, Stanley Okoro Emegha, who spoke to newsmen shortly after the election, said the primary election of APC was free, fair, credible and devoid of rancour.

He stated that the choice of Ani to fly the flag of APC was to balance the political power between the five LGAs of the zone.

Emegha revealed the preparedness of his party to ensure victory in the forthcoming bye-election.

Ani said that the forthcoming bye-election will be credible and transparent and that his party will win overwhelmingly.