Peter Obi Denies Deal With Uba
From Charles Onyekamuo in Awka
The Peter Obi Campaign Organisation has denied allegations being aired in the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) for about four days now that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate in the April 19, 2003 governorship election in the state, Mr. Peter Obi has struck a deal with Governor Chris Ngige's estranged political godfather, Chief Chris Uba to unseat him (Ngige) from office.
The organisation described the allegation as cheap blackmail, false, frivolous and mischievous to the extreme.
In a statement entitled: "Peter Obi Has No Pact With Eselu", dated September 15, 2004 and signed by Chief S. Nwobu Alor, the organisation's Executive Chairman, described the allegation as a tendentious fabrication calculated to defend recent ugly revelations from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) camp in the state on how they falsified the gubernatorial election results that brought them to power.
Uba was recently reported in a national daily (not THISDAY) to have told the audience at the World Igbo Congress (WIC) meeting that ended in the United States of America (USA) that the PDP didn't win the gubernatorial elections in Anambra state, but that Obi's APGA did, and alleged further that the camp connived with INEC in the state to give Ngige and the PDP victory.
Since the publication, which appeared, the state radio, the ABS had been running news commentaries on an alleged pact between Obi and Uba to unseat Governor Ngige.
But the campaign organisation denied any such pact now nor in the forseeable future and reiterated its confidence in the due process of the law.
"For the information of those who may still have doubt about Peter Obi's impeccable character and credibility, I wish to emphasize that neither now, nor in the forseeable future shall Peter Obi plan, either alone or in concert with anybody, to unseat Dr. Chris Ngige by any dubious means other than through the due process of law.
"Peter Obi rightly felt aggrieved over the massive falsification of the result of 2003 gubernatorial election and in compliance with the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and respect for the nascent democratic norms, he took his grievances to the Election Petitions tribunal, for adjudication.
"The matter is still pending before the Anambra Election Petitions Tribunal for determination. "Mr. Obi has absolute confidence in the Tribunal and has no need whatsoever to seek for the assistance of a third party to help him "Unseat" Dr. Chris Ngige. The talk of a deal with "Eselu" is therefore a balderdash.
"As far as Peter Obi is concerned, the decision of the Tribunal or any other court of competent jurisdiction in respect of his petition, shall be sufficient and final", the statement said.
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