APGA is best option for our people, says Onaiwu

Party disowns members over anti-party activities
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Osaro Onaiwu, yesterday said his party remains the best option in the governorship race.

Onaiwu, who spoke in an interview with The Guardian, said the impression that the contest is between the two major parties is a creation of the media.

He explained that unlike the other parties, “The APGA doesn’t believe in renting a crowd. Throughout the campaigns, our party wasn’t paying N10million for airtime to cover its rallies. That explained why some people thought we were not working hard enough. But the people have started to see that the party is a force to reckon with.

“Everywhere that the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been to, I had been there twice. Our campaigns are about the grassroots, touching the lives of the people and identifying with their problems,” he said.

He said despite his renewed calls that the polls be further shifted to enable students to write their examination on the new date, he is hopeful that over 48 per cent of the people would vote for him.

Onaiwu added: “If INEC goes ahead to hold the election, the victory would surely be waiting for me. I have secured 48 per cent of the voting population already, which is why the other parties are in panic. Both the PDP and the APC seem to have suddenly realised that the Igbos are important in deciding the winner of the election.”

He added that if the INEC allows every vote to count, the APGA would win 12 of the 18 local council areas.

“The reason the Igbos are sentimental about the APGA is because they have seen what the Anambra State Governor, Willy Obeano is doing in their home state. They are hopeful that the APGA model would be replicated in Edo if they vote for me,” he said.

The candidate urged the Igbo and other tribes to join hands with him to “build a credible government that would fix the state and make it proud again.”

Meanwhile, the party has disowned some of its members, including the state’s Publicity Secretary, Paul Okolie and Organising Secretary, Chidi Eze, for alleged anti-party activities.

A statement by its state chairman, Godfrey Ehizokhale Ehimhen and Secretary, Aifuobhokhan Emmanuel accused them of misconduct.