Anambra Guber: Ohanaeze Denies Endorsing any Candidate

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State, Politics Saturday, November 4th, 2017

Photo: Incumbent Governor and candidate of All progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Willie Obiano

From Ignatius Okpara

ENUGU NIGERIA (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – As the November 18, 2017 Anambra state governorship election draws near, the Igbo umbrella body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has denied endorsing any candidate for the polls.

It has also alerted the incumbent Governor of the state and candidate of All progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Willie Obiano, of the existence of some political jobbers and faceless groups bent on duping him of various sums in the name of Ohanaeze.

The Assistant National Publicity Secretary of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Comrade Chuks Ibegbu, who spoke weekend from Umuahia, Abia state with the leader of a pressure group operating under the auspices of Igbo Mandate Congress, IMC, and chieftain of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Rev. Obinna Akukwe, said that “the primary concern of Ohanaeze Nddigbo was how to ensure a free and fair election in Anambra State”.

He added: “The President General and members of National Executive Committee are concerned about free polls in Anambra State”.

“Ohanaeze has within its fold members of all political parties and as such cannot come out openly to support any candidate.

“However, it reserves the right to give direction to the Igbo race if the need arises and that direction can come through the President General. Therefore anyone purportedly supporting any candidate without the clearance from Ohaneze NEC is only seeking for financial aggrandizement”

Commenting on groups claiming affiliation to Ohanaeze Ndigbo and collecting funds from the APGA Campaign Office, Ibegbu disclosed that such groups except one, neither known to Ohanaeze Ndigbo nor got any clearance from the President General.

According to him, “Ohanaeze will make known its stance on Anambra elections any moment from next week, but the stance will still be that Anambra people will be allowed to vote the candidate of their choice”,.

The Anukwe group, had told Ohaneze that it is embarrassing that some groups owned by a former Ohanaeze EXCO member, including Eastern Youth Forum, Ofuma Women Organization, Continuity for Leadership and Empowerment, Ezumezu Omambaka Di Igbo Egwu, Igbo bu Igbo for APGA – Obiano-Okeke, Citizens United for Reconstruction and Equity, Citizens Reconstruction Initiative, among others, have siphoned various sums of money from the APGA Campaign Office in the name of Ohaneze endorsing Obiano.

It therefore urged the leadership of the organization led by Chief Nnia Nwodo to rise up and tackle the development, before it tarnishes its image.