In an interview with journalists, Prof. Ani, a renounced academician, stated that growing pressure from his people to represent them effectively in the Senate was another factor in his choice to compete for the job.
He stated that in order to bring Nigeria forward, its economy requires an immediate turnaround and that the senators should be men of substance who possess the maturity, experience, and knowledge necessary.
After former Deputy Senate Leader Send. David Umahi resigned to become Minister of Works, the senatorial seat for Ebonyi South became vacant.
"After analyzing the state of our nation, I found that Nigeria is at a crossroads and in a very critical situation. Those who will represent us in the Senate need to be people of substance," Ani stated.
He also said that the Senate needs truth-tellers and advocates who will battle for what is rightfully theirs because in Nigeria, you have to fight and strive for your people; otherwise, someone else will grab their part. And for that reason, I've agreed to travel and represent the zone.
Ani went on to say that if elected, he would bring government representatives to the zone, pointing out that the previous representatives had not really done enough to live up to the trust the people had placed in them.
The APC candidate, who last week won the endorsement of the zone's stakeholders, pledged to provide the zone with high-quality representation and assured his supporters that he would not let them down.
He applauded Mr. President for his revolutionary breakthroughs thus far and stated that he will continue to record more successes now that some of them are in the Senate.
"I want to say that with humility and dedication, with the will of God, I will not disappoint you all. I believe that Ebonyi South is our inheritance," he remarked, asking for the support and prayers of his people.