PLOT to withdraw the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the Anambra State governorship election won by Tony Nwoye thickened on Monday as the appeal panel led by Senator Hassan Lawal met in Abuja.
Nigerian Tribune checks revealed that Chairman Senate Committee on Public Accounts and first runner’s up in the primary, Senator Andy Uba had in a petition dated 27th August, 2017 and addressed to the APC national chairman, Odigie Oyegun called for the cancellation of result of the primary as he claimed that thugs, rather than accredited delegates voted at the primary where his main rival for the ticket, Tony Nwoye emerged.
His petition read in part: “It is on record that during the accreditation of delegates which took place at Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, Honourable Tony Nwoye brought in thugs/members of NANS into the arena.
“The thugs/NANS members chased away the authentic delegates the moments their names were being mentioned for accreditation and in the place of the authentic delegates, the thugs entered as delegates and were eventually conveyed to the Women Development Centre, Awka, the venue of the voting proper. It is therefore these thugs/members of NANS, who masqueraded as authentic delegates that actually voted in favour of Honourable Tony Nwoye.”
But addressing newsmen at Rockview Hotel, venue of the sitting of the Senator Lawal led panel, chairman of the party in Anambra State, Emeka Ibe dismissed the claim of Senator Uba as unfounded.
ALSO READ: Anambra guber: Lawyers want IPOB activities checked
He said: “The primary was successful, there was nothing like fake delegates, except in Orumba North where people complained that they changed their names. There was nothing like presence of thugs at voting and accreditation centers.”
Speaking with newsmen shortly after his appearance before the appeal panel, the party candidate, Tony Nwoye faulted allegations raised by Senator Uba in his petition.
“I said it was not true, that no single members of NANS, former or students was part of the primary election, that all the delegates that voted were statutory delegates expected to vote. And this is a primary election that was adjudged the best in the history of Nigeria and the partisan politics in the country.
“So, I made it very clear that there was no room for manipulation, nobody was embarrassed or intimidated to vote and no evidence of inducing voters with money.”
He further expressed doubt that his mandate would be upturned by the party national working committee.
“I’m not God but I know these are party men and women. I told them that at this point in time the Anambra people have spoken as far as party ticket of APC is concerned. That mandate I think by the special grace of God should be left alone. It is not about Tony Nwoye but about these people who suffered all the night, I felt for them, I pity them.”
The APC governorship candidate further revealed to newsmen that he has since reached out to all other aspirants who sought for the party ticket, but expressed regret that Senator Uba has been keeping him at arms’ length.
“Andy Uba is the only aspirant who refused to talk to me. I called him, I sent text to him, I even got to his house but he refused to open gate for me but for the other aspirants, I have met with all of them.”
National publicity scribe of the party however said the national working committee was yet to take any decision on the party but noted that the outcome of the appeal panel would be accorded priority.
“It is also important for us to recognise that there are procedures for everything. The procedure for primary within our party as you know provides for certain windows for people who are dissatisfied to lay their grievances or complaints before the appeal panel.
“But we have not received the report of the appeal panel and so we await for that panel and we don’t know what they will recommend.
However whatever is the report of the panel we will consider it and then take a decision, we are confident that we will be able resolve whatever the issues are and then go into the election. We are also confident that we are going to win the governorship election on November 18.”
and then