The All Progressive Congress in Ebonyi State has zoned the southern senatorial district’s ticket to Onicha Local Government Area of the state.

This is contained in a statement by its state Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro-Emegha among other State Working Committee members.

The zoning of the senatorial district ticket was sequel to its rerun election fixed for February 2024 by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Recall that the seat was recently declared vacant by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, after its former occupier, Chief David Umahi, resigned to become the Minister of Works.

This decision by the party remained a threat to the ambition of Umahi’s younger brother, Austin, who recently declared interest to contest the rerun.

Mr Austin was the Director-General of the party’s campaign committee in the last general elections.

The party, in the statement, said it was treading the path of equity and justice with the zoning of the senatorial district ticket to Onicha LGA.

“Nature abhors vacuum, hence the need to fill the vacant position of the district. The APC leader in Ebonyi State, Gov. Francis Nwifuru, has exemplified leadership embodied in equity and justice and such worthy of emulation,” the statement said.

It stated that with the current distribution of political positions in the district, only Onicha LGA has no exalted political position of honour.

“Afikpo North LGA produced the deputy governor and a House of Representatives member while Edda LGA produced the state party chairman. Ivo LGA has a House of Representatives member; Ohaozara LGA has a minister, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner and a Senior Special Assistant to the President. Onicha LGA has none and in the spirit of equity and justice as propagated by the party’s leader, the vacant seat should be zoned to it,” the statement read.

The party in the statement said that it was in total alignment with the state governor on the decision.

“The SWC is in tandem with our leader’s philosophy of ensuring peace and peaceful coexistence in all parts of the state,” the communiqué read.

The Umahi brother hails from Ohaozara LGA.