A socio-political umbrella in the fold of the Abia State chapter of the All Progressive Congress, Abia Rejoice Movement (ARM), has drawn the attention of the general public in the state to the alleged nefarious and insalubrious attempt to subvert the will of genuine members of the APC in the state by changing through the backdoor the conclusive victory of Dr Uche Sampson Ogah, the winner of the concluded gubernatorial direct primary election of the party held across the 184 electoral wards of the seventeen local government areas of Abia State.
AFRIPOST reports that the immediate past Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr Uche Ogah, had scored 141,952 votes to beat his closest rival, Paul Ikonne who scored 27,054.
Other gubernatorial aspirants include, Chief Ikechi Emenike who polled 9,446, Emeka Atuma with 7,429, Obinna Oriaku with 5,553, Alex Otti scored 2,41, and Daniel Eke who got 1,953 at the keenly contested direct primaries held on 26th, May 2022.
This was announced by the Returning Officer of the concluded Abia APC direct gubernatorial primaries, Barrister Perfect Okorie, in Umuahia, the state capital.
Continuing, the Abia Rejoice Movement, in a statement by Chijioke Udeogu of its media directorate, on Sunday, noted that this fruitless and already dead attempt is being spearheaded by desperate political elements who have been wasting funds in inducing APC officials at the national headquarters to change the victory of the rightful winner, Dr Ogah.
According to the group, “It must be stated that the goal post cannot be changed when the game has already been concluded.
“The emergence of Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah is the will of the genuine and law-abiding members of the APC in Abia State who adhered to the party’s instructions on direct primaries in Abia State on 26th May and some other states through an original letter from the national leadership of the APC issued on the 25th of May and whose receipt was confirmed by INEC on the same day 25th May for Adoption of Direct Mode of Primary Elections for Abia, Benue and Osun States selected for 26th May 2022”.
The Abia APC group called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hold fast and not buckle under pressure from any quarter regarding upending already certified submissions as all approved due processes were observed.
It also called on all people of good conscience within APC fold and beyond to be aware of the dishonest activities being orchestrated by subversive elements whose actions if not checked will lead to the destruction of the party in Abia State and beyond.
“We encourage Abians not to lose faith with all these political intrigues by agents of distraction as their actions are indicators of a dying group who have lost relevance in the grand scheme of things.
“Thus, Uche Ogah is aware that to lead the emancipation of Abia won’t be a tea party and he is fully prepared and resolute”, the group concluded.