Nkechinyere Ewa, Abakaliki
The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, is expected to attend the burial of Pa Okaji Simon Okorie Abba, the father of Chief Linus Okorie, the party’s senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South in the 2027 general election.
Pa Okaji died on November 14, 2025, at the age of 93. His son, Chief Linus Okorie, announced the burial programme, describing his late father as a man of integrity, wisdom and selfless service whose contributions to education and community development left lasting legacies.
Okorie said the late patriarch earned the sobriquet “Patron Eguani” through his lifelong commitment to the welfare, education and development of young people in his community.
According to the burial programme, funeral activities will begin with a Christian wake at Isiama Primary School, Onicha Igboeze, in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The funeral Mass will be held at the same venue on Friday, July 31, 2026, after which the remains of the deceased will be laid to rest at his country home in Amokwe, Isiama.
The late Pa Okaji Simon Okorie Abba is survived by several children, including Chief Linus Okorie, who represented Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo Federal Constituency in the 7th and 8th National Assemblies.
During his time in the House of Representatives, Linus Okorie served as Chairman of the House Committee on Agricultural Institutions from August 2015 to June 2019.