The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has condemned an alleged grand conspiracy orchestrated by the northern All Progressives Congress (APC) cabals to politically undermine Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State.
The organization, in a statement, stated this while affirming its impartiality in the upcoming governorship election in Imo State this Saturday.
The Factional Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, noted that despite the organization’s neutrality ahead of the poll, it will denounce any conspiracy by the northern All Progressives Congress (APC) cabals to politically undermine Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State.
Isiguzoro’s response was prompted by claims made by the former APC National Vice Chairman (North West), Salihu Lukman, suggesting that Uzodinma was rewarded as the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum for allegedly funding efforts to endorse former Senate President Ahmad Lawan as the APC consensus Presidential candidate.
In a released statement, Isiguzoro asserted, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo unequivocally maintains its zero-neutrality stance in the Imo State Gubernatorial elections. We have no preferred candidate and believe in fostering a fair and transparent electoral process that upholds the principles of democracy. However, we cannot stand idly by while powerful forces within the APC engage in a witch hunt against Governor Uzodinma, seeking to deny him federal backing and manipulate the outcome of the elections.”
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“It has come to our attention that powerful forces within the All Progressives Congress (APC) are seeking retribution and revenge against Governor Uzodinma, using alleged past political errors as a pretext to undermine his candidacy in the forthcoming Imo State Gubernatorial elections.
“Governor Uzodinma’s supposed sins, as outlined by these vindictive APC cabals, include his role in working against President Tinubu during the Presidential primaries alongside the Former APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu. It is worth noting that both Adamu and the APC National Secretary were relieved of their offices due to their infamous actions against Tinubu during the APC primaries. Now, these same forces are demanding that Governor Uzodinma be sacrificed, unfairly targeting him as a scapegoat for their political vendettas.
“Our suspicions were further reinforced by a timely press interview credited to the former APC National Vice Chairman (North West), Salihu Lukman, just days before the Imo State elections. In this interview, Lukman allegedly pointed out that Uzodinma was rewarded as the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum after allegedly funding the attempts to adopt Former Senate President Ahmad Lawan as the APC consensus Presidential candidate.”