Imo PDP demands prosecution of APC senatorial candidate over alleged fraud

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State has called for the arrest and prosecution of the All Progressives Congress senatorial candidate for Imo East, Alex Mbata, over alleged financial misappropriation.

A Whitepaper submitted by a panel, set up by the previous administration of Emeka Ihedioha, had allegedly indicted Mbata, a former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of Imo State University, Owerri (IMSU), for shoddy deals.

The party, in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Collins Opurozor, said: “It is pertinent to remind Imo people that, in keeping with the vision of the PDP to build an educationally robust Imo, one of the earliest observations, which our Rebuild Imo Administration made upon assumption of office, was the infrastructural inadequacies of Imo State University.

“In view of that, the PDP government set up a visitation panel to expose the issues that had hampered that institution.

The visitation panel, which was headed by Prof. Chinedu Nebo, investigated the issues between 2012 and 2019.

“The panel’s whitepaper, in paragraph 5.1 entitled, ‘Abandoned Building Contracts,’ indicted Mbata, who allegedly replaced 3-D Consultant with Mayfair Projects Ltd, contrary to laid down procedures by TETFUND.

“Imo PDP, therefore, demands immediate arrest and prosecution of Mbata to ascertain his role in the non-execution of the projects funded under his watch as Pro-Chancellor, and which consultant he was indicted to have unduly replaced.”

But reacting, Mbata, through his Campaign Director General, Godfrey Dikeocha, denied the allegations, describing it as the handiwork of blackmailers and those afraid of his high profile and philanthropic records.

“There was no ‘indictment’ against Mbata by any Imo or any other government whitepaper, and we challenge this Imo PDP faction to produce a such indictment against him within 48 hours or face legal action against the Rebuild Imo Faction and the hapless Collins Opuruzor.”

“ Mbata will never be deterred by blackmailers and soldiers of fortune in Imo politics! The glorious dawn is around the corner and enemies of the people are losing their sleep as their ambitions slip away.”