Hon. Linus Okorie, the Labour Party’s 2023 senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South, declared on Monday that no senator-elect or politician would take Governor David Umahi’s aspirations to become the President of the Nigerian Senate seriously. Okorie further stated that the outgoing Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. David Umahi lacks the qualifications and competence to assume the role of Senate President, even as he (Umahi) has strategically involved Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike in the endeavor.
Okorie shared these insights in a statement, highlighting that Umahi’s Senate Presidency aspirations are ill-suited, misleading, and farcical but also doomed to fail from the start.
Okorie remarked, “We find it amusing that Umahi has cunningly enlisted the support of Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State, for his soon-to-be futile ambition – the same man he once referred to as “a thief lacking political intellect. “
Although Okorie endorses Umahi’s call for the Southeast to produce the 10th Senate President, he reminds Umahi that his current status as senator-elect for Ebonyi South is only temporary.
Okorie reiterated his commitment to regaining his mandate through the Election Petition Tribunal and emphasized that Umahi’s lack of legislative experience disqualifies him from seeking such a crucial position.
“Umahi, who is currently in possession of my mandate, which he stole on February 25, 2023, through a dubious alliance with a discredited professor acting as the Returning Officer of the Ebonyi South Senatorial election, has also expressed his intention to run for the distinguished role of Senate President. This ambition is not only ill-suited, misleading, and farcical but also doomed to fail from the start.”
“Firstly, Umahi lacks the mandate to pursue his fanciful ambition, as I am determined to recover my rightful mandate at the election tribunal, which is an ongoing process.”
“Secondly, and of critical importance, the existing Senate rules and precedents emphasize the importance of prior legislative experience for any contender for this esteemed office, which also entails serving as the Chairman of the National Assembly.”
“It is crucial that, as Ndigbo, we urgently return to our tradition of putting our best foot forward. The Southeast must not permit self-serving political opportunists to hijack our chances, and we must treat this matter with the utmost seriousness, especially in the ever-evolving and complex landscape of Nigerian politics.”
“I want to assure those highly qualified Southeast senators, particularly Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu and Sen. Osita Izunaso, that despite our political party differences, I fully support their pursuit of a Senate President from the Southeast, and I will continue to do so.”
The Labour Party’s senatorial candidate urged the people of Ebonyi South Zone to remain peaceful and law-abiding as he expressed hope that he would soon recover his mandate.
