Ebonyi Re-Run Election: Why I Dropped My Senatorial Ambition – Agom-Eze

A third-time woman senatorial contender on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State, Mrs Ann Agom-Eze has given reasons for the non-submission of the form for her senatorial bid which she had earlier purchased.

Speaking with journalists in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, Agom-Eze said the action was informed by her decision to pave the way for the emergence of Professor Anthony Okorie Ani, who recently emerged victorious in the party’s Senatorial bye-election for the Ebonyi South Zone held recently at Afikpo Local Government Headquarters in the state.

She said, “I took the decision just to pave the way for the emergence of Professor Anthony Okorie Ani, who is currently the senatorial flag bearer of our party, APC for Ebonyi South senatorial bye-election.”

Continuing, she said, “I purchased the form to stand for the recently conducted primary election of our great party, which took place at Afikpo Local Government Area Headquarters but discontinued the submission of the form in the interest of the party and its senatorial candidate, Professor Anthony Okorie Ani.”

She further urged the state governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru to ensure that a woman represents one of the senatorial zones of the state, come 2027 general elections.

The Senatorial hopeful expressed confidence that the APC, in the state will clinch the Ebonyi South Senatorial position in the coming senatorial bye-election, and vowed to support the party’s candidate, Professor Anthony Ani.

Women in politics

Stressing on women’s inclusion in the governance of Ebonyi State, she said, “Power is not given, you go for power, because when men gather, they will always say, we didn’t give it because there is no woman. So I didn’t want them to say, there is no woman again. That’s why I have always been in the race.

“I may not go today, but it has gone down history that there is a woman to occupy that position. Women must be encouraged to occupy such political positions. The men shouldn’t be saying that women are waiting to pick power on the platter of gold,” Agom-Eze emphasised.

She noted that women currently do not wait for power to come without working for it, and boasted that women now go ahead to get the power as their men counterparts do.

“That’s the propelling factor why I have been contesting for the Ebonyi South senatorial zone election. I will always do that until I get there and
I pray that the government will one day support us the way they are supporting the current senatorial candidate of our great party, APC, Professor Anthony Okorie Ani,” she said.

Party’s mandate still intact

Chairman of the APC in Ebonyi State, Stanley Okoro-Emegha had earlier said that the party’s mandate to occupy the Ebonyi South Senatorial position remains intact and protected.

He told reporters in Abakaliki that the rerun election billed for the first week of February became necessary following the resignation of Senator David Umahi who was appointed minister.

The APC chieftain emphasised that the much-expected rerun election would not rob the ruling APC in the state of the position of the Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone given the appointment of Senator Umahi who before now occupied the position on the platform of the party.

Emmanuel Ukoh