By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Three female supporters of Chief Ebuka Onunkwo, a senatorial aspirant of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the Anambra South bye-election, were on Wednesday rewarded with N100,000 each for crying when that he announced he was ending his run for the position.

News Express reports that the senatorial seat was left open following the death of late Senator Ifeanyi Uba who represented the zone at the National Assembly until his death last year.

But Onunkwo’s run for the ticket was truncated after a conclave voting of all the aspirants of the party who were asked by the Governor to select among themselves a consensus candidate that could fly the party’s flag at the August 16, 2025 bye-election.

At the end of the conclave voting, Emmanuel Nwachukwu, an accountant emerged the consensus candidate of the party while Onunkwo emerged second choice.

To this end, the oil magnate and owner of Seahorse Lubricant Industries Ltd stepped down for the consensus candidate and wrapped up his campaigns.

Onunkwo made the donations during a Thank-You gathering he organised at his country home in Ihembosi, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the state, to appreciate his supporters.

The three beneficiaries, including one Mrs Ann from Nnewi, were said to have been moved to tears when Onunkwo announced he was stepping down and withdrawing from the senatorial race earlier in the week in obedience to the party’s leadership decision in support of Chief Emma Nwachukwu as the consensus candidate.

The special donations came shortly after Chief Onunkwo also donated a whopping sum of N100 million in cash to his supporters, party executives, ward leaders, media team, and devoted campaigners from the seven LGAs of Anambra South.

Addressing the audience, Onunkwo expressed gratitude to the supporters and party faithful, praising their sacrifices, tenacity, and consistent belief in his vision and capacity.

He described his senatorial campaign as one of the most spirited and people-driven in recent political history of the zone — comparable only to the era of the late Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah.

He however argued that party leaderships and delegates should always have something to show as party stalwarts, adding: “I have decided to change the narrative of APGA in Anambra State. I want to make the executives of APGA from the seven local government areas relevant. I want you to have sense of belonging.

“I want if you are a party Chairman or secretary in your ward, you should have something to show for it.

“Let us encourage people who are well-to-do to remain in APGA because they will change the narrative. They’ll help to change your situation. I have been a significant change in APGA’s narrative since I joined active politics in October 2024.”