Gbenga, Nwabueze, Prof. Iwu, Chekwas & others debunked Umeh’s claim

… Says, “truth is that at no time did Umeh ever participate in the nomination of Obi in the two terms he was the governor of Anambra State”

By Eneh Victor Chiagozie

[AIF Media]

The truth is that Chief Victor Umeh must be regretting granting the interview to the Sun Newspaper and making some claims that have become a serious debate today.

In the last 72 hours, the interview has been drawing many leaders into the the debate. I don’t know what Umeh maybe thinking with many leaders are coming to disown his claims.

First it was Gbenga Afeni, the former National Organising Secretary of APGA, a Yoruba man from Oshogbo that came in to disown Umeh on his claim that he made Obi governor.

But before Gbenga, Peter Obi had through his media aide, General Valentine Obienyem stated clearly that Umeh lied in all his submissions as contained in the interview.

The next to dispute Umeh’s claim was Chief Chekwas Okorie. Though Chekwas didn’t comment on what Ohamadike said on the interview, he reacted to a claim made by a core Umeh loyalist, Mr Emeka Odionu. Odionu had quoted Chekwas in an attempt to justify Umeh’s allegations against Obi, but the founder of APGA said what he was quoted as saying against Obi were all false.

Another founder of APGA and former Anambra state Treasurer of APGA, Hon Don Nwabueze also disputed Umeh’s claims in the interview.

I have also read what Ekwunife said through his SA Media, Kingsley Ubani on this trending interview. Iyom said Umeh is not a character that should be given a gentleman treatment.

And finally, Prof Mourice Iwu the former INEC National Chairman has also reacted. Umeh mentioned him in the interview. Chief Umeh was reported to have said: “I had to become chairman of APGA not by my wish but to save his mandate. I fought with Professor Maurice Iwu when he wanted to deny Obi participation in the 2010 governorship election for the second term; I fought him in court and overwhelmed him. A truce was brokered because I had a court judgment which Iwu was disobeying when the court had affirmed Chekwas Okorie’s expulsion from the party and Iwu continued to recognize Chekwas to put another candidate against Peter Obi in APGA in 2010. I fought through, won at the Court of Appeal and I was able get Ojukwu’s support for Obi and we won the second term election for him.”

And Prof Iwu came in to discredit Umeh’s claim. He stated thus;

“The fact is that Chief Umeh was NOT involved at all in the nomination process that led to the recognition of Peter Obi as the APGA candidate for Anambra election. There were several conflicting court judgements on the Chairmanship of APGA. Just before the close of nomination for the election Chief Chekwas Okorie was declared the authentic Chairman of the party. APGA had concluded its nomination process and selected Peter Obi as its gubernatorial candidate but INEC could not accept any nomination signed by Chief Victor Umeh because of the legal position. I was actually at the Basilica in Yamoussoukro (Ivory Cost) when late President Yar’dua called to inform me that there was a petition by Peter Obi alerting him that it would be unfair to deny APGA the chance to field a candidate in the election. The president was shocked when I informed him that I agreed with the petitioner and that it could also create security problem if Anambra people were denied the right to chose their candidate. I had to cut short my private visit to Yamoussoukro to attend to the crisis. On my return I contacted Peter Obi through an Anambra state senator who is a mutual friend. I directed the INEC Alternative Dispute Resolution unit to handle the matter. The method requires prior neutral assessment or evaluation of the matter and the participation of Chief Umeh was considered counter productive and likely to undermine a win-win resolution. The case was successfully resolved and I requested Dim Ikemba Odumegwu Ojukwu to sign the nomination form for Peter Obi. The partially completed forms were sent to Ikemba by hand-courier and he signed and returned the signed document through same person, who is still alive.

All those who participated in the conflict resolution through the ADR mechanism, including Chief Chekwas Okorie, the INEC head of ADR at the time, the Intelligence Adviser, and the Senator are alive to confirm my statement. Peter Obi was not nominated based on any court action by Chief Umeh. He was NOT even part of the process” – Prof Iwu.

In support of Prof Mourice Iwu, Chief Chekwas Okorie came in again to write this;

“JUST FOR THE RECORDS.

I wish to corroborate the statement credited to Professor Maurice Iwu above. Governor Peter Obi’s nomination forms for his second term election were signed by Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Barr Bello Umar. Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu was the Chairman Board of Trustees of his own faction of APGA while Barr. Bello and I were the National Secretary and National Chairman of APGA respectively. Following my recognition by INEC as National Chairman of APGA, Umeh proceeded to a State High Court at Awka where he procured an Exparte Order restraining me from signing the governorship’s nomination forms for Anambra State Election. Suffice it to say that it was the direct intervention of Prof Maurice Iwu following the appeal of President Yar’dua that made me to accept that Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu could sign the forms along with Barr. Bello Umar. Note that Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu was not qualified to sign in my place according to law but I kept my promise not to challenge the Obi’s nomination in Court. Barr Bello signed the forms at INEC Secretariat in the presence of myself and the INEC Representative before Professor Iwu despatched somebody known by him, to Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu to obtain his signature. Governor Obi owes Professor Iwu a world of gratitude for making his second term nomination possible. Truth is that at no time did Umeh ever participate in the nomination of Obi in the two terms he was the governor of Anambra State. I pity Umeh each time I read his many lies about how he made Obi the Governor of Anambra State. The completed nomination forms are still property of INEC and are accessible for verification.” – Chief Chekwas Okorie.

The heat is really on Umeh.

[Daily News Reporters]