The Enugu State chapter of the Labour Party has disclosed that Peter Obi, their party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election, was never in support of Chijioke Edeoga’s emergence as the guber candidate of their party.
The party who made this known yesterday through its spokesman Ken Asogwa in a radio program on Sunrise FM, Enugu, said that they noticed Obi distancing himself from Edeoga on different occasions to the point that in one of Obi’s earlier visits to the state, the national office through the instruction given by Obi has to invite Chijioke Edeoga to a meeting in Abuja on the same day in order that the two will not have a meeting point when Obi finally arrives the state, questioning how such conspiracy could have been aided by the party’s national officials.
The Labour Party spokesman equally accused Obi of serial betrayal and deceits, maintaining that Obi wanted the Labour Party ticket given to Capt. Nnaji because of his promises to make available the fleet of helicopters and executive jets in the Odengene Air Services (OAS), owned by the aviator-turned-politician, for his state-to-state campaign tour, in addition to maximum financial support.
Mr Asogwa further disclosed that from their investigations, it was Obi that connived with Iyare and other top Labour Party national officials to influence the earlier judgement of the Federal High Court Abuja in Nnaji’s favour and also blocked the national headquarters of the Labour Party from releasing campaign funds to the Enugu while alleging that the state party operatives sold the governorship ticket to Mr Chijioke Edeoga instead of making it an open contest.
Reacting to the aftermath of the guber election in Enugu, the spokesman maintained that their guber candidate was rigged out but expressed optimism that the party will reclaim its mandate. He also took a swipe at Obi for expressing joy over the defeat of his party in Enugu by hurriedly hugging and congratulating Peter Mbah a few days after being declared the winner at an occasion they both were important guests, maintaining that it was indicative of an intimate relationship between the two.
”The public image of integrity we built was downplayed by the way Obi avoided our candidate like the plague. The way he raised the hand of Alex Otti at the Aba rally, and his wicked statement that Obidients should vote for competence and character in Enugu State instead of emphasizing Edeoga’s name is a clear indication of all I have told you about the ill-treatment meted to our candidate, Edeoga.
”Peter Obi and other leaders of our party are nothing but hypocrites and traitors. They acted against us in the election. Of course, you saw him hugging, smilingly, congratulating and offering a seat to Peter Mbah at an event. What does that tell you? This same Obi had introduced his lawyer, the famous election litigation expert, Chief Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, to Mbah. Is it not the worst act of treachery?
”As for our stolen mandate, we shall recover it no matter what it will cost. We have gone to the tribunal and have engaged the services of (7) seven senior advocates. Our patrons; Gilbert Nnaji, Nnia Nwodo and others have vowed never to let this slide.” Asogwa said.
You should recall that on April 12, 2023, Chijioke Edeoga at a meeting of the Coalition of Support Groups for Okaome held at his Enugu residence narrated how Obi betrayed him, describing the presidential candidate as a green snake in green grass.
~Okechi Hyginus
