Imo: Mbaitoli Aspirant Threatens To Withdraw From Imo Assembly Primary Election Over Suspected Electoral Fraud, Corruption
A frontline aspirant seeking to represent Mbaitoli local government area of Imo State in Imo State House of Assembly, Barr Ikechukwu Nwaopara has raised the alarm over the effort of those he described as the enemies of the All Progressives Congress to destroy the party by imposing candidate on the people of the local government.
Nwaopara raised the objection in a statement signed for him shortly after 15 hours of keeping the local government delegates at the Rock View Hotel Owerri without conducting the election.
He queried why the election could not hold as no cogent reason was advanced as the cause of not holding the election.
He also revealed that neither a member of the electoral committee nor any electoral material was sighted even as the Chairman of the party kept reassuring aspirants and delegates.
When NewsTrack Nigeria visited Rock View Hotel about 10:15 pm, most delegates were still murmuring and talking to themselves in groups until they were called to see the Chairman and Innocent Ikpamezie in Room 511 where some delegates revealed they were given $100 each.
Again, contrary to the electoral act, the venue of the primary election is supposed to be at the Constituency since Mbaitoli local area of the state has no security challenges like their sister local governments in Orlu zone.
He, therefore, warned that should those saddled with the responsibility of conducting free and fair election should do so on or before 9 am on Friday, May 27, 2022, otherwise he would have no choice than to pull-out of the exercise.
The statement reads:
PRESS RELEASE
Following the botched long awaited and anticipated Imo State House of Assembly APC Primary Election today 26th May, 2022 for Mbaitoli Constituency by the party in the State without any cogent and verifiable reason, I on behalf of my campaign organization and teeming supporters in Mbaitoli do hereby state as follows:-
1. The Scheduled primary Election did not hold as scheduled.
2 No cogent and verifiable reasons were given for the non-conduct of the election.
3 No member of the Electoral Committee was sighted.
4 No single electoral material for the said primary election was sighted.
5 the venue was Rock view Hotel (Room 511) instead of the constituency, Mbaitoli Local Government Area.
6 That His Excellency, Gov. Hope Uzodinma cannot be in support of any imposition following his statement and directives that everybody should go to the field to contest under free and fair electioneering process.
In view of the above, I wish to state that it is clear that some enemies of the APC in the state want to destroy the party by their selfish attempt to impose a candidate on the people of Mbaitoli and I dissociate myself from such process.
Therefore I demand that the said election be conducted free and fair tomorrow 27th May, 2022 on or before 9am failure of which I shall pull-out from the primaries for electoral fraud and corrupt practices.
I shall know my next line of action if the said exercise is not conducted as demanded.
Long live APC
Signed
Barr Ikechukwu Nwaopara
Aspirant Imo House of Assembly Mbaitoli
 | ReplyForward |
