Okorocha accuses Uzodinma of seeking governorship to escape trial

• I will reclaim my stolen mandate, says Nwosu
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has accused the standard-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hope Uzodinma, of seeking governorship position to enjoy immunity from trial.

He spoke in reaction to Uzodinma’s claim that his purported arrest at the weekend was sponsored by Okorocha to put him in public disrepute.

Okorocha’s Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, made the reaction in a statement yesterday,

The governor also accused the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole of supporting Uzodinma, against his-son-law, Uche Nwosu, despite the candidate’s negative image.

Uzodinma’s media aide, Declan Emelumba, had denied his principal’s arrest over alleged breach of contract to the tune of $12.5million.

But the governor said the APC candidate is doing everything to become governor not to actually rule the state, but to enjoy immunity to escape from the criminal trials that he is currently facing.

He said: “Uzodinma is facing trial over issuance of a dud cheque, and the trial Judge, Justice Abdulwahab Muhammed was reported to have referred the case to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation.

“He is also on trial over non-declaration of assets, and the case is before Justice Babatunde Quadiri of the Federal High Court Abuja.”

The governor maintained that Uzodinma was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for Recovery of Public Property in connection with the breach.

He expressed concern that Oshiomhole was pushing for the man to become governor without asking questions about his credibility.

“These are matters had happened years before now and have nothing to do with Okorocha,” he said.

The statement said Okorocha has no record of witch-hunting in his life generally, because he is too godly to think evil against anyone.

The governor implored Uzodinma to withdraw from the governorship race to save the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption.

Meanwhile, Nwosu has declared that he would work tirelessly to ensure that his stolen mandate is returned to him.

Addressing his supporters at Heroes Square yesterday, he said he was convinced that he won the governorship primaries in the state, and pledged to resist the ongoing diversion.

He added that he would remain a loyal party man, and urged his supporters not to resort to violence.