Controversy is said to be trailing the governorship primary election of the Action Democratic Party ADP in Imo state as the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), hijacked the process from Abuja, while handpicking Dr. Kachi Nwoga as the guber candidate against Prof. Tony Mbah, the party’s adopted candidate for the November 11, Imo governorship elections.
Addressing Journalists after the botched primary election held on Thursday, 25th May, the ADP state Chairman, Dr. Uzo Mmezi, pointed out that there were three contenders for the guber ticket, Prof. Tony Mbah, Dr. Kachi Nwoga and Barr. Ikechi Amadi, for whom the primary was supposed to be conducted.
He however disclosed that out of the three only two were available for the process having met the party’s requirements, adding that after a smooth process, the National working committee has taken the decision to announce the flag bearer in the person of Dr. Kachi Nwoga a former Ahiazu Mbaise council Chairman under the Okorocha administration.
“It is their sole choice, I stand to be quoted, I tried and fired but they told me I have only one option which is Kachi Nwoga.” He submitted.
Fielding questions from the press, a dissatisfied Prof. Tony Mbah said he came for ADP guber primary election which he would not react to, until he hears the announcement of their result, expressing dismay that Igbos were living in dangerous times where “an Igbo man would look his fellow Igbo man in the face and lie to him, ” noting that this was the worst thing that can happen.
Prof. Mbah, a tech-expert, and professor of computer science based in the United States of America, observed that “at every level, people are lying and deceiving, that is why we have become slaves in this nation.”
Prof. Mba disclosed thus, “The ADP primaries was scheduled solely for my nomination as candidate of the party by substitution. The entire cost of the event was borne by me. The state Chairman is being economical with the truth.”
He continued “It is important for the government in power to understand that a compelling argument supported by the majority of the population can emerge only when different points of view are allowed to coexist.
“As tenuously perceived, the Imo State governorship elections on November 11 won’t be a talking shop.
Because a lot will happen in politics between now and November.
“Imo merits only the best! Tony Mba, is the ANSWER!” he stated.
Earlier, in his remarks, Dr. Kachi Nwoga opined that it was a time of sober reflection for the party on where they wanted to be as against where they were now, he thanked all who made it possible for the party to be at its present level, but maintained that the reality was that they ought to be somewhere else rather than where they were right now.
“That’s what brought me into this party, together we can work to get where we need to be”.
Some disgruntled party faithful expressed dissatisfaction with the process, arguing that the National working committee should not have influenced the state working committee decision on the primary election.
Hon. John Amaeshi, who contested for Oguta state constituency under the Action Democratic Party ADP platform regretted that action’s such as these were what had kept the party at the level it was.
Another party member, Dr. Solo Okorie hinted that this was supposed to be a substitution primary election with the party’s Placeholder in the INEC list present but he wasn’t, adding that the substitution candidate was Tony Mbah but seems he had been shortchanged.