No Bribes, No Coercion: Imo APC Aspirants Voluntarily Step Down for Senator Ndubueze, Debunk False Claims

Imo North senatorial aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have firmly rejected reports of inducement or duress, stating that their decision to withdraw from the party primary and support the incumbent candidate, Senator Patrick Ndubueze, was entirely voluntary.

Speaking with journalists on Monday in Owerri, Longers Anyanwu, on behalf of three key aspirants, said the clarification was necessary to counter what he described as “misrepresentations and falsehoods” circulating on social media about the outcome of the APC senatorial primary in the Okigwe zone.

“There’s a need to make some clarifications in order to obviate the misrepresentations and falsehoods being peddled by some sections of the social media on the results of the APC, Imo North senatorial primaries,” Anyanwu stated.

He described the APC direct primary election conducted under Option A4 as peaceful, orderly, and largely free of the rancour that had plagued previous party exercises.

According to Anyanwu, party members turned out in large numbers to vote for their preferred aspirants without intimidation.

“The exercise in Imo State and especially in Imo North was hitch-free and devoid of the wrangling previously associated with party primaries of this magnitude,” he said, adding that the process also recorded strong support for President Bola Tinubu’s presidential ticket reaffirmation.

Anyanwu confirmed that alongside Princess Gloria Akobundu and Mr. Kennedy Ike Odoeme both frontline aspirants he stepped down for Senator Ndubueze in line with the zoning arrangement prescribed by elders and leaders of the senatorial district, which favours Ndubueze’s Otanchara/Otanzu clan.

“We came to that decision not only in obedience to the existing zoning arrangement by the elders and leaders of the senatorial district, which favours Senator Ndubueze, but also to strengthen party unity and improve the APC’s chances in the general election,” Anyanwu explained.

He dismissed claims of a parallel candidate emerging from the primary, insisting that the election was duly conducted, results collated, and announced by the returning officer appointed by the APC National Working Committee.

“The primary election in the district was conducted, results collated, and announced as appropriate by the returning officer duly assigned so to do by the APC National Working Committee. We are certain that the committee has submitted the results to the appropriate authorities,” he said.

Anyanwu further noted that all stakeholders in the zone remain committed to securing victory for the APC in the forthcoming elections, including the re-election bid of Senator Ndubueze.