Leading aspirants in the last Saturday’s All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary, including Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Lucky Imasuen, Senator Monday Okpebholo and General Charles Airhiavbere have demanded the removal Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma as Chairman of the Election Committee.
They said they strongly believed that whatever was responsible for Uzodinma’s flagrant disregard for due process and unusual hasty declaration of unconfirmed fictitious results of the primary outside the designated collation centre might not have abated from his mind,
They were of the opinion that the only way to remedy the ridicule and embarrassment that Uzodinma’s tactless and overzealous behaviour is for him to recuse himself.
The aspirants in a joint statement issued Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s ordered rerun of the governorship primary said Uzodinma did not observe the minimum requirements for compliance with the relevant provisions of the laws and regulations guiding the election as provided both in the Electoral Act and in the APC Constitution.
The aspirants 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.”