As the APC NWC has fixed Thursday as new date for a re -run of the party’s primary election, having earlier declared last Saturday’s exercise inconclusive, some of the leading aspirants in the race for the party’s ticket have rejected the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, as Chairman of the Elections Committee.
The aspirants in a joint statement signed by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Chief Lucky Imasuen, Senator Monday Okpebholo and General Charles Airhiavbere (retd), the aspirants, said Uzodinma did not observe the minimum requirements for compliance with the relevant provisions of the extant laws and regulations guiding the election as provided both in the Electoral Act and in the APC Constitution.
It would however be recalled that both Pastor Ize – Iyamu and Lucky Imasuen had officially announced their withdrawal from the race few hours.
Expressing their rejection of Governor Uzodimma as head of the committee to conduct the re -run, the aspirants in their petition which was also copied to president Bola Tinubu and the APC NWC, said; “We strongly believe that whatever was responsible for his flagrant disregard for due process and unusual hasty declaration of unconfirmed fictitious results of the primaries outside the designated collation center may not have abated from his mind, and therefore may be repeated if given the opportunity to play the same role as chairman in the process.
“In the circumstance, we are calling on Mr President to kindly use his good offices to replace Senator Hope Uzodinma with any other respected member of our great party, as chairman whom the President strongly believes will comply with the law, maintain internal democracy, protect and defend the integrity and goodwill of the President which he has attained over the years that endeared him to both national and international stakeholders.
“Furthermore, we believe that this is the only way to remedy the ridicule and embarrassment that Uzodinma’s tactless and overzealous behaviour, which in the view of keen observers of happenings in the ongoing process of nominating a viable candidate of our party, runs within the borderline of mischief and clotted with antidemocratic vestments, unknown to law.
“We have implicit confidence in Mr President’s devotion to justice, equity and fairness in the process that will produce the Gubernatorial Candidate of our party in Edo State which is now rescheduled for tomorrow 22nd February 2024, and also ensure victory for our party in the governorship election that is scheduled for September, 2024,” the statement added.