Azuka Okwuosa, a former Anambra governorship aspirant, has emerged as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the August 16 senatorial by-election for Anambra South.

Mr Okwuosa polled 480 votes to defeat Obinna Uzor, who polled 57 to clinch the ticket, while 22 votes were declared invalid in the primaries held in Nnewi on Saturday.

The Anambra South Senatorial by-election is to replace late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who died in July last year.

Henry Ikoh, chairman of the 7-member APC congress committee, stated that 594 delegates from all seven local government areas of the zone participated in the primary election.

“By the authority given to me by the acting national vice-chairman of the APC, I confirm that the election was held before INEC, security agents, media, and delegates. The exercise was peaceful, and I hereby declare that Azuka Okwuosa won the election and is hereby returned,” he said.

Okwuosa said that he was elated to be elected the party’s candidate for the election.

“Ifeanyi Ubah was a great senator, and within the period he was in the senate, he did a lot, and I see it as a challenge for me to take over from where he stopped,” he said.

Mr Okwuosa was born in Jos, Plateau, on November 3, 1959. He has been a governorship contender on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

He had a brief stint in the PDP between 1999 and 2003 before joining the APC.

He was also a former chairman of the Nnewi North LGA, a former commissioner for works and transport in Anambra, and former Secretary General of the South East Development Initiative between 2002 and 2010.

(NAN)