RECORDS STRAIGHT BETWEEN DR ALEX OTTI AND OCHIAGHA REAGAN UFOMBA WHO IS A VALIDLY NOMINATED APGA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE IN ABIA STATE AND WHO IS AN IMPERSONATOR? Under no circumstance would we have gone to press with these open sore but for the recent rantings of the Dr Alex Otti Media Campaign Organization. In their self-delusion, they attempted, albeit in vain, to place the facts of the recently concluded APGA primaries in Abia State on its head. We therefore react as follows: 1. OCHIAGHA REAGAN UFOMBA is a known party man and indeed APGA governorship flag bearer in Abia State in 2011 ELECTION 2. OCHIAGHA REAGAN UFOMBA served as the Chairman of the Party’s National Reconciliation Committee between former Governor Peter Obi and Chief Victor Umeh, and indeed other aggrieved party members 3. While DR ALEX OTTI is a known banker and a member of the PDP till date 4. On the 11th day of November 2014 DR ALEX OTTI bought nomination and expression of interest forms from CHIEF VICTOR UMEH in Abuja 5. ON THE 18TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2014, DR ALEX OTTI was introduced to the party in Abia State as an intending member of the party, a week after he became an aspirant albeit a “candidate” 6. Constitutionally, one does not become an aspirant before becoming a member of a political party 7. It is on record – including that of INEC, that the nominator of Dr Alex Otti, Chief Victor Umeh lacked both the CONSTITUTIONAL and LEGAL POWERS to so do when he did for the following reasons: i. Chief Victor Umeh was first elected Chairman, in line with Article 18 (1) of the APGA constitution, on December 1st 2006 for a period of four (4) years. ii. He extended his tenure for another term of four (4) years on the 1st of December 2010 when his first term in office expired iii. He served out his final term in office on the 1st day of December 2014 iv. Our constitution has no provision for extension or third term v. Any nomination or duty performed by Umeh after 1st of December 2014 is therefore a nullity 8. Legally speaking, on the 28th of November 2014 a Federal High Court in Abuja restrained Chief Victor Umeh from parading himself as the National Chairman. 9. Article 12(2)b of the APGA constitution empowers the Deputy National Chairman from the same zone as the Chairman to take over in his absence 10. In this circumstance, notwithstanding that Chief Victor Umeh vacated the Order on the 3rd of December 2014, three things happened. A. Chief Chris Ejike Uche, the Deputy National Chairman South (from the same zone as Umeh) took over the administration of the party as stipulated by the constitution. B. APGA moved on without Chief Victor Umeh as Chairman C. The National Working Committee (NWC) Passed a vote of confidence on Chief Ejike Uche as the Acting National Chairman 11. Again, on the 8th of December 2014, a State High Court in Abia further restrained Chief Victor Umeh from parading himself as the National Chairman of the party. 12. Reasons being that his tenure had elapsed and also a candidate for the Senate 13. While the Court Order was still subsisting, INEC Time table stipulates that “all parties must conduct their primaries and resolve all disputes” on or before the 11th of December 2014. 14. Belatedly, the restraining Order on Umeh was vacated only on the 12th of December 2014 after all parties had conducted their primaries and all disputes resolved and nomination concluded under Chief Chris Ejike Uche – the Acting National Chairman, in consonance with INEC guidelines 15. By the forgoing, Chief Victor Umeh neither participated nor had powers to determine the winner or nominate anyone in a contest he never presided over. 16. In addition to the above, Umeh’s tenure had since elapsed on the 1st day of December 2014 17. We have it on good authority that Dr Alex Otti is still A MEMBER OF THE PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) 18. In a response to our letter of enquiry dated January 9th 2015, the PDP wrote that “Dr Alex Otti is still our member as he has not resigned his membership of our party” 19. This is very offensive to Article 7(b) of the APGA constitution, dealing on CONDITION FOR MEMBERSHIP “membership of the party shall be open to all Nigerians, irrespective of their religion, ethnic group, place of birth, gender, social and economic status, provided that the person is not a member of another political party or if he/she was such a member, has resigned such membership” 20. Attached to the PDP letter is a copy of Dr Alex Otti’s Membership Card of the PDP Number 2962204/16 showing that he is from Arochukwu ward III in Arochukwu L.G.A 21. Whereas, in his sworn affidavit to INEC Dr Alex Otti claims to have come from Isiala Ngwa South L.G.A, WHAT A PERJURY! 22. Till date, Dr Alex Otti is neither a registered member of APGA in his ward nor a known member in his assumed Local Government 23. On the 9th of December 2014, the National Working Committee of APGA met and further passed a vote of confidence on Chief Chris Ejike Uche and ratified the governorship primaries in Abia wherein Chief Reagan Ufomba scored 515 votes and Dr Alex Otti 47 24. On the 10th December 2014 Chief Reagan Ufomba was validly nominated by the party. This nomination was duly acknowledged by INEC on the 24th of December 2014 25. Suffice it to clearly state here that the restraining Order was served on INEC on the 9th of December 2014, with evidence of acknowledgement 26. We do not want to go into the absurdity of how Dr Alex Otti “allegedly” contested intra-party primaries with Chikwe Udensi, already a Governorship Candidate of the PPA, wherein Dr Alex Otti declared himself the winner with 485 votes and PPA 8 votes, or the Lakewood venue where they allegedly held the primaries. Lakewood Hotel has no space to host 600 delegates, but a mere beer parlour with a standing capacity for not more than 20 guests. And quite different from the original venue designated for the primaries 27. INEC is the custodian of the constitution of all parties. They are aware that Chief Victor Umeh’s tenure had elapsed on the 1st of December 2014 28. Above all, INEC was duly served a restraining Court Order on Umeh on the 9th of December 2014; they are also aware of their own time-table; it is INEC directive that everything about party primaries and dispute resolution ends on the 11th December 2014; they are as well aware that the restraining Order on Umeh was vacated only on the 12th; yet they accepted a nomination from a “restrained” former Chairman 29. In our view, and from the forgoing, Dr Alex Otti is the impersonator and perjurer, and should indeed stop parading himself as the governorship candidate of APGA in Abia State. We therefore urge him to urgently proceed to court as threatened (where we are already waiting to disqualify him) to prove the validity of his membership and nomination. 30. This is the truth of the matter. Signed: Professor Mike Nwaubani, FCICN ,MCPN, AMNIM Director General Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba Campaign Organization.
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 10:17:45 +0000
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