Ohakim denies collecting $1million from Uzodimma onbehalf of Achonu to bribe fake deligates to win LP Guber Primary in Imo
From Marcel Duru, Owerri
The former Governor of Imo State Chief Ikedi Ohakim has denied allegation of collecting $1 million from the incumbent APC Governor of Imo State Senator Hope Uzodimma to bribe fake delegates to win Labour Party governorship primary so as to step down for him during November governorship election in Imo State.
Speaking with Journalists in Owerri, Imo State he further highlighted that there was never a time he collect the sum of $1 million from the Governor of Imo State Senator Hope Uzodimma on behalf of acclaimed winner of Labour Party (LP) Senator Athan Achonu
“Anybody who claimed that Chief Ikedi Ohakim collected $1 million on behalf of LP Flag bearer Senator Athan Achonu should bring proof to substantiate his or her claim”
However all effort to contact the LP Gubernatorial Candidate Senator Athan Achonu proved abortive.
Recently one of the contestants on the April 15,2023 Labour Party Primary Maj.Gen. LKJ Ogunewe (Rtd) said that Senator Athan Achonu gave fake delegates the sum of $300 each to manipulate the election in his favour held at Land mark event centre on April 15, 2023, Owerri,Imo State.
He said that on Saturday the 15th of April 2023 at Landmark Events Centre in Owerri, Imo state, Labour Party Governorship primaries election was conducted by His Excellency Dr Alex Otti, adding that
the said primaries an honest error was made by the Election Committee when it asked Local government area chairmen of LP to identify delegates
from their areas.
Ogunewe contended that many party chairmen who had been compromised by one of the contestants Mr Athan Achonu allowed non-elected fake delegates to enter into the election hall.
He futher disclosed that these fake delegates confessed to receiving $300 dollars each to vote for Mr Achonu.
“Despite my protestations, these fake delegates voted and at the end of the day Mr Achonu who scored 134 votes was declared winner against my 121 votes which made me to come second.
Ogunewe disclosed that as at now position is that the elections were manipulated and rigged when LPv’ local government chairmen were asked to identify delegates and many of them left the original delegates list and admitted fake delegates to vote.
In this case, all my 121 votes were from original LP delegates that emerged from the Ward Congresses of LP.
“If all the votes of the fake delegates who collected $300 dollars and voted for Mr Achonu are cancelled or voided l would automatically score the majority of the votes and emerge winner of the Imo state governorship primaries election”
He revealed that he has followed due process of the law by filing a petition to Labour Party Governorship Primaries Election Appeals Committee on these flagrant violations that occurred at the primaries and l expect that justice would be done.
“Ndigbo should know that the time has come for us to move away from Party-based politics to candidate-based politics where the educational credentials, career records, integrity, credibility and capacity of an individual should be the focus of our quest for transformational leadership. Peter Obi has already set this example”
“Finally, l thank all my teeming supporters in LP both within the state, through out the country and globally. I also thank the leadership of our great party,
Let it be clear to all and sundry that the LP family in Imo state gave me their mandate without vote buying to fly the Flag of the Party at the November 11, 2023 governorship elections. I shall do everything legally possible to execute that mandate! Our victory is certain with me leading from the front”
