From Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki
Governor David Umahi's younger brother, Austin has rejected his appointment by President Muhammad Buhari as the Secretary of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC.
Austin Umahi, the former Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP South East zone, was in recent time appointed by President Buhari as the Secretary of the RMAFC but has declined the appointment, saying the job is at best for the job seekers and retired civil servants.
He who made this known, Wednesday on the Ebonyi State Media platform for news updates, appreciated people who sent him congratulatory messages and calms for the appointment and however urged them not to feel bad for his recent decision of declining the nomination.
His words: "Let me deeply appreciate every one of you that sent his or her congratulatory message & numerous calls for my appointment as d RAMFC Secretary.
"I am honestly humbled by this show of love, however, I regret to inform you that I declined the appointment because it is at best for job seekers or retired civil servants or better still anyone who loves the job and secondly, I am convinced that at my age in work experience, it is not in doubt that I know what I want in life.
"Please if you are interested in the position do not hesitate to approach our indefatigable governor to do the needful because as far as I am concerned the position is still vacant. Thanks and God bless."
Recall that Austin Umahi contested the APC primary election for the seat of the Ebonyi South Senatorial District and won the ticket, but later withdrew interest, stepping down for his elder brother and the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr Dave Umahi after failing to clinch the APC presidential ticket.
However, an APC Female Chieftain who participated in the said APC primary election and emerged the second winner, was gathered to have claimed that she was the winner of the senatorial ticket of Ebonyi South zone, since Austin Umahi, (the first winner of the exercise) had allegedly withdrawn interest, lingering suits and countersuits.
True Vision recalled that Governor David Umahi has staged a hot protest against the suit that disqualified him as Ebonyi South Senatorial candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, alleging Mrs Ann Agom Eze had earlier withdrawn from the race before the primary which made him the winner of the party's senatorial ticket of the zone
Umahi through the confirmed social media handle of his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity made this known on Friday.
It could be recalled that the Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki had earlier on Friday acknowledged Mrs Ann Agom Eze as the party's authentic candidate for APC Ebonyi South Senatorial District.
Also, recall that Governor Umahi had through his Counsel, Roy Nweze Umahi dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission, to the court demanding that the commission should recognize his client as the party's candidate for the zone after the governor's younger brother, Austin Umahi declined interest from the race for the second primary election on the 9th June 2022 for his brother, the governor who was reportedly won unopposed.
Our correspondent also reports the court learnt that Ann Agom Eze had on Tuesday approached the court seeking the nullification of Governor David Umahi as the candidate of the party on the ground that he did not participate in the senatorial primary election.
This contradicted the demand of Umahi's Counsel who had sought INEC to recommend the state governor as the authentic candidate of the party for the senatorial position which took place at Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Earlier in his judgement, Justice Fatun Riman, cited section 115 of the new electoral law 2022, saying that the governor was not an aspirant and cannot participate in the election or pre-election matters of the All Progressives Congress as regards the Ebonyi South Senatorial District, which the primary election was held on 28th day of May 2022.
He maintained that as cited in the section of the new electoral law, the governor neither procured forms nor participated in the election and cannot claim any right based on the primary election.
Reacting to the development, the Counsel to Mrs Agom Eze, Barr Nwonu Nnaemeka in a telephone interview, said his client as a second run-up in the exercise should claim the ticket of the party for the zone.
Barr Nwonu explained that the new electoral law mandates his client to go through a fresh primary within fourteen days of the first candidate's withdrawal knowing that an unopposed candidate was no longer in line with the law as she's to be officially supervised by INEC, hence, "she is the only constitutionally liable candidate standing for a rerun.
He further emphasized that the state governor is not competent to participate in the primary as he was still a presidential candidate at the date of the said acclaimed rerun even as his younger brother who had withdrawn would not contest as his forms expired on the day of his withdrawal except he obtained the fresh form, whereas, governor Umahi is entitled to appeal the case.
Recall that the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, Mike Igini, recently warned politicians against picking multiple forms as such act amounts to criminality and culpable of attracting two years jail terms.
Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State APC Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha has announced Sunday 31st July 2022 as a new date for the rerun primary election of the Ebonyi South Senatorial District.
