There was tension in Owerri on Saturday afternoon as the first lady of Ondo State and All Progressives Congress senatorial aspirant for Imo East, Betty Akeredolu, accused the state governor, Hope Uzodinma, of hijacking the primary.
The first lady, who stormed the secretariat with her security aides and supporters, and came out to address journalists, said that she will resist all attempts by the state governor to announce one of the aspirants winner without any election taking place anywhere.
She said the governor was imposing somebody on other candidates on the pretence of a consensus candidate, which she rejected.
Akeredolu said the delegates’ lists which were supposed to be used for the election were hidden from her and the other aspirants.
She said, “This is almost 3pm and the elections have not started. Every attempt by Governor Hope Uzodinma to impose a person on us as a consensus candidate must be rejected. The primary election must hold so that if I lose, I will congratulate the winner.
“They called us and asked us to step down for one unpopular aspirant and I said ‘no’, that the process must go on. That there must be an election. You can’t do that to people like us in the 21st century. I have gone round the nine Local Government Areas in the district. The people are ready to vote for me.”
“You can’t write figures, declare somebody winner when there was no election. I, therefore, call on the national chairman of the APC not to accept any name from Imo East as the senatorial candidate. The primary has not been held. You can see that the delegates are still waiting while they have smuggled in a name as the winner of an imaginary primary election.”
“I am pleading with the NWC of our party to know that any result coming from this kangaroo election from Imo state for Imo east senatorial district should be rejected. There was no election,” she said
“I am not part of the consensus plan. Consensus my foot! Let’s go to the field. If I lose, I will accept it and congratulate the winner.”
When contacted, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, said the governor had no hand in party primaries.
Emelumba said that Mrs Akeredolu was protesting because the “thugs she imported” from Ondo State to rig the process were intercepted and arrested by the police.
The commissioner said, “The governor does not conduct primaries. Primary elections are conducted by the national leadership of the party. Secondly, the governor is in Abuja as we speak. How can he be in Abuja and at the same time be accused of mingling in an exercise taking place in Owerri?
“The governor made it clear when he addressed all the APC aspirants that the process should be free, fair and credible. The governor has no hand in the primaries.”
Thugs chase Akeredolu’s wife from Imo APC primary venue
It was also reported that thugs, on Saturday, invaded the venue of the primary conducted by the party to elect a candidate for Imo east senatorial district.
Mrs Akeredolu, was reportedly chased from the venue by the thugs.
Betty, who hails from Emeabiam in Owerri west LGA of the state is contesting against four other aspirants — Alex Mbata, Kemdi Opara, Jerry Chukwueke and Ugochukwu Nwachukwu.
Meanwhile, according to Cajetan Duke, Imo APC publicity secretary, the primary for the senatorial district is ongoing.
Duke also denied the claim that the state chapter of the party wants to field a consensus candidate.
“All the party said to aspirants was that those who stand no chance of winning the election should step down,” NAN quoted Duke as saying.
The Punch / TheCable / NAN
