[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]
Senator Julius Ucha who represented Ebonyi Central Senatorial District for eight years in the National Assembly has been adopted as a consensus governorship Aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from his Ezza Ezekunna clan.
Ezza Ezekunna clan is believed to be the most populous clan in Ebonyi State.
The adoption followed the directive of the State Governor, David Umahi, for the people of Ezza and Izzi Clans to nominate two governorship aspirants for the APC to choose from.
Ezza and Izzi clans are competing to produce Governor Umahi’s successor.
In compliance to the Governor’s directive,the people of Ezza clan had a meeting where they nominated the Secretary to Ebonyi State government, Dr Kenneth Ugbala and Senator Julius Ucha.
However, Ugbala after further meetings by the clan, stepped down for Ucha to emerge the sole governorship aspirant from the clan.
Speaking after a stakeholders’ meeting of the clan to fine tune the process on Tuesday at Onueke, Senator Ucha, who was the pioneer Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly and 2015 governorship candidate of the APC, noted that his adoption was a show of solidarity and trust.
He said, “It is a wonderful show of solidarity of the people of Ezza Ezekunna. It is a rare opportunity and something that is not usual in political environment. I feel very happy for the trust. Everything is in the hands of God. I believe that this time around, that God will use all the people involved in the electoral process especially the Governor, Engr. David Umahi to enthrone me as the successor of the present administration”.
On whether he has the capacity to clinch the party’s ticket in Ebonyi State, Ucha said: “I have the chance to be the next Governor, but everything is in the hands of God. The Party has three conditions upon which an aspirant can emerge in a primary election. They are through Direct, Indirect and Consensus. So, whichever process that would be adopted, I’m optimistic that all the authorities in charge of all the processes, especially the state Governor would be touched in the heart to help me to succeed.”