The victory of Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha is still attracting adversarial comment even as the countdown to the inauguration of the incoming government in May fast approaches.
The latest is coming from Dr. (Sir.) Edmund Joseph Onyebuchi, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders Council who said that the governor-elect, Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha knows that he did not win the election.
He claimed that the election was won by Senator Hope Uzodinma whom he described as the choice of Imo people. He also prayed that the election tribunal will restore Uzodinma’s mandate given to him by Imolites.
Onyebuchi made the assertion Wednesday in a Press briefing at the Okigwe Road Owerri Campaign office of Senator Hope Uzodinma who was the All Progressives Congress (APC) standard bearer in the just concluded election.
In a Press release availed the Daily Nigerian Horn signed off by the Chairman and his Vice, Chief Bernard Anyanwu, the group indicated that after reviewing the political situations in the state which bothers on outstanding election results they decided to join forces with Senator Hope Uzodinma, the party’s standard bearer in his fight to get power through the tribunal.
In their words, ‘at the end of the fruitful deliberations, the Council saw the need to, support and participate actively in Senator Hope Uzodinma’s petition in the tribunal because if an honour is awarded where it is not merited, then it has been denied where it is justly due’’.
They also appealed to the judiciary to expedite action in delivering judgement on the Okigwe Senatorial seat even as they promised to support the House of Assembly candidates pursuing their cases at the tribunal.
Resolving to maintain their leading position in the state, he stated, ‘we wish to assert that no systematic arrangement can crush Imo APC either by commission or by omission adding that no manipulation is insuperable in Imo State.
The Elders Council the chairman stated is made up of 27 members each representing a local government.
Onyebuchi took a historical tour on how Uzodinma emerged which he claimed was made possible by the inability of candidates from Owerri Zone to speak with one voice in order to produce a candidate from among them.
The seven candidates he further indicated shied away from confronting Governor Okorocha whom they said possessed unmatchable resource base.
This according to him caused him to approach Uzodinma to rescue the situation. Uzodinma expressed his desire to go back to Senate because he was interested in the Senate Presidency, he stated again.
‘We told himyou have to give up to get up’.
He commended the corruption fight of President Muhammadu Buhari and described any APC working against it as an interloper and not a true member.
Nigeria Horn
