This followed a claim by a faction of the APC in the State led by Deacon Okey Ogbodo that Senator Ayogu Eze is not the party’s guber candidate for the 2019 general elections.
Ogbodo had said that “for the avoidance of doubts, the APC flag bearer in Enugu State is Barrister George Tagbo Ogara.”
But in a swift reaction, chairman of the APC in the State, Barr. Ben Nwoye, in a statement, said the PDP, which was afraid of failure, had resorted to a last minute attempt to confuse the electorates in the State.
He said, “The attention of the Enugu State APC has been drawn to a media report indicating that one Barr. George Ogara has emerged as the gubernatorial candidate of the APC for the upcoming election.
“The report itself is not only ridiculous but out of the imagination of some persons parading themselves around in Enugu. While we admit that Barr. George Ogara is an Enugu State APC member, but it should be noted that he introduced thuggery during the party’s last primary election. Several people were injured and properties were destroyed by hundreds of thugs he introduced and a disciplinary committee has been set up to look into his activities. He did not only lose in the election on the day he introduced thuggery, where he scored one vote, he also lost woefully, he came out last during the just concluded primary election and that election result was announced by Prof. Momoh, where Barr. Ogara placed distant last.
“Okey Ogbodo’s macabre dance is being bit by the PDP as they failed to distort the election to their favour. The winner of the election as announced by Prof. Momoh was and still remains Senator Ayogu Eze and his emergence has united APC Enugu State more than ever and the popularity of APC in Enugu State has continued to soar as goodwill of Distinguished Senator Ayogu Eze has attracted both new members from PDP; they are joining forces to ensure that power is wrestled from the PDP in 2019.
“The report by Okey Ogbodo, who is claiming to be chairman of APC, that report has already been put to rest. Distinguished Senator Ayogu Eze has been given forms by the NWC, both for him and his running mate, which they will be submitting to INEC this week.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, was Barr. Ogara mentioned anywhere by the NWC or has he form of any nature, as even an aspirant who is close to winning, let alone emerging as a candidate?
“Our teeming supporters should henceforth disregard statements from Okey Ogbodo and his associates, regarding the governorship. We know that Okey Ogbodo was sponsored by the PDP to take over the leadership of APC, which failed, as it was repelled. He has remained in court, his court cases have come to nothing.
“At the last concluded election, the primaries from the State House of Assembly up to the governorship was conducted by the leadership of APC, led by Dr. Ben Nwoye. So, PDP should look for other means and prepare for election; they should prepare for election come 2019. Using surrogates to misinform the public is not an election strategy in the 21st Century.
“We are advising our teeming supporters to totally and permanently disregard any statement issued by Okey Ogbodo or George Ogara as those type of statements are nothing but part of exercise engaged by those who have ascribed to them authorities they don’t possess,” Nwoye concluded.
