From, Chuks Moses, Awka
Amid reports of the defection of the Anambra State’s deputy governorship candidate of the Accord Party, Chief Kenneth Ifeatu Obi, to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Accord Party chairman in the state and Obi’s principal have described the report as mere political rumour of idle minds in the opposition.
No official word has come from Obi, though a photograph of him with APC governorship candidate, Andy Uba, has emerged on social media.
As the reports go, Obi defected and was received by APC governorship candidate, Mr. Andy Uba, and other party chieftains.
But addressing a press conference at the party’s campaign headquarters, on Friday night, the state chairman of Accord, Chief Bartho Igwedibia, flanked by the party’s candidate, Dr. Godwin Maduka and the Director General (DG) of the campaignorganisation, Barrister Bright Nnebedum, denied the story of Chief Obi’s departure.
Obi was conspicuously absent at the event. The party Chiefs said he was on an assignment.
Chief Igwedibia pointed out that as the party’s helmsman in the state, with all records of its members, no letter or information conveying Obi’s intention was received by him or any other person.
According to the party chairman, “Accord Party is going to produce the next governor of Anambra state, come November 6, 2021. No amount of distraction from any quarter would stop it.
“Chief Obi is merely on assignment and I spoke with him less than an hour ago. It’s part of our strategic political diplomacy. That was why in the face of all the speculations he didn’t tender any resignation letter. He’s on an official errand and we are okay with that…”, the chairman stated.
Dr. Maduka, in his assessment of the campaign tour of the 326 electoral wards of the state’s 21 Councils, admitted the experience was rewarding and enriching, as it availed him and his running mate the opportunity to appreciate the extensive decay and neglect by the successive administrations.
The candidate vowed to use his 10-point agenda to transform the state.
Dr Maduka noted that “some say they will build Dubai in Africa; but I have already built Dubai out of my Umuchukwu community. I have built a first of its kind medical research center where experts from overseas will come to treat patients, particularly tropical ailments, etc.
He disclosed that having toured all the 326 wards in Anambra state, where the citizens welcomed and embraced him and Obi with joy and hope. He swore to work relentlessly till victory was achieved come November 6, 2021 at the polls.
“All the workers, traders, artisans and villagers, especially the poor, neglected and dejected have adopted us and our message of hope as we have now commenced door to door, one-on-one visitation campaign. We therefore commend them for believing in us because they said that having seen all that I did in Umuchukwu, where I singlehandedly built schools, hospitals, High Court, Magistrate court as well as the judges’ quarters and other such facilities. They noted that they want me to win as governor so as to replicate all the life changing facilities in the state.”
DG of the campaign organisation, Barrister Nnebedum, said that having worked in cohesion like Siamese twins while community campaign tours lasted, Maduka and his running mate were on the threshold of history come November 6, 2021.