Osborne Umahi, the eldest son of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has secured the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship ticket for Ohaozara Local Government Area following the party’s primary election held on Monday.
Naija News reports that Osborne polled all 55 votes cast at the primary, which took place in Obiozara, after his only challenger was disqualified from the race.
The exercise was conducted by the APC congress committee chaired by Alphonsus Nwali. Former aspirant Jenny Umahi was disqualified for failing to complete registration on the party’s ongoing online membership platform.
With her disqualification, Osborne Umahi ran unopposed and clinched the party’s ticket with the full 55 votes recorded, confirming his status as the APC flagbearer ahead of the local government election. The process was observed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In his acceptance speech, Osborne highlighted key areas of focus should he be elected chairman, including healthcare, agriculture, youth empowerment and infrastructure development.
He pledged to establish cottage agricultural centres and introduce mechanised farming to boost productivity within the local government area.
“We will develop cottage agricultural centres and adopt mechanised farming to ensure proper growth of the agricultural sector in Ohaozara,” he said.
Osborne also promised to improve road infrastructure, particularly routes connecting farmlands to markets, to ease the movement of agricultural produce.
“We will construct durable concrete roads linking farms and markets, roads that will stand the test of time and last for decades,” he added.
He expressed gratitude to Governor Francis Nwifuru for the opportunity to contest, as well as to his father for his prayers and his siblings for their support throughout the process.
Several local leaders and stakeholders have since congratulated Osborne Umahi on his victory, including Mrs Chioma Nweze, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Development (South East), and the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Housing, Francis Ori.