Anthony Iwuoma
The Director, Media and Publicity of the Frank Ibezim Campaign Council, Hon. Irouno Chukwunonye, has insisted that no other candidate in the race for the October 31 senatorial by-election in Imo North is a match for Sir Frank Ibezim, SFI, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement that was apparently intended to counter allegations against the APC flag bearer, Chukwunonye said, “The provisions of 1999 constitution of Nigeria and the operating Electoral Act clearly and without ambiguities stipulated the basic requirements for the position of the senate to include possession of O’ Level certificates (WASC/GCE or equivalent), soundness of mind, freedom from criminal convictions, party nominations among others.
I boldly hasten to say that Sir Frank Ibezim, the APC Candidate is not in breach of any of these stipulations having submitted his O level certificate, enjoyed the nomination of his political party, the APC, maintained soundness of mind and not encumbered by any criminal convictions at all.”
On the allegations flying around and pending court cases against Ibezim, he described them as spurious and unfounded, saying: “It is not new for persons not favoured by the outcome of party congresses and primaries to approach the court with whatever claims, few had succeeded while many others failed, it’s not abnormal.
“Even our major opponent in the by-election, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is already at the Appeal Court stage, challenging the High Court annulment of her Congress, a development that has denied the party participation in the election until the higher courts say otherwise, yet the party is preparing without qualms for the election despite not having a candidate for now.”
Chukwunonye added that neither the party nor Ibezim’s campaign team is worried about claims about “the academic qualifications of Sir Frank Ibezim because all the institutions he passed through, such as Ikperejere Secondary School in Ihitte Uboma LGA, the Imo State University where he graduated with Bachelor Of Science degree in Industrial Chemistry and the Rivers State Office of National Youth Service Corps where he did his one year mandatory national youth service are all in Nigeria for anyone’s enquiry, investigation and verifications, at least Nigeria is not Toronto.
“He simply chose to submit that of GCE in strict compliance with the minimum constitutional requirement; this is no offence and we don’t have any problem with the action.”
The media director further stated that among the candidates for this bye election, Sir Frank Ibezim of the APC has the richest political pedigree with currency of practice and so deserved to be elected, as he alone does not only have the potentials to represent the people in the senate but also connections to bring home the much desired dividends of democracy.
“Apart from being a former Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, he just served as the Special Adviser(Political) to the current Minister of State for Education and Chief of Staff to the former Honourable Minister of the same ministry, these positions he verifiably used to not only influence the employment of many Okigwe sons and daughters into different Federal Agencies and Institutions in the country but jointly attracted the ongoing Open University with world class incubation center at Ehime Mbano LGA, a project that has already stimulated high economic activities in the zone for contractors and business men of various categories, not to talk about its employment generation capabilities in the nearest future.
“The synergy he will enjoy with fellow APC Senators who already control the 9th Senate, the Presidency including the Honourable Ministers who are all APC members, APC Government controlled Federal Agencies and the Imo State Government placed him higher and above others for the overall good of Okigwe people.”
Chukwunonye warned the constituents against electing the candidate of the opposition party because such a senator would be ineffective.
“It must be noted that sending a person of another political party to this already AP-led Senate in these remaining years will further choke and draw back the fortunes of the zone, which a well-connected APC Senator stands to better. Let Okigwe people wisely vote APC in the coming by-election; that is the right path to follow,” he said.
