The Ohaneze Ndigbo socio-cultural group has played down reports that it has endorsed APGA candidate, Governor Willie Obiano ahead of the Anambra State election.
Governor Willie Obiano
Ohanaeze Ndigbo has denied backing any candidate for the gubernatorial polls in Anambra State scheduled for November 18th.
The group also alerted Governor Willie Obiano of the existence of spurious groups bent on fleecing him various sums in the name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
Its Assistant National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Chuke Ibegbu, while briefing the leadership of Igbo Mandate Congress, told Rev Obinna Akukwe, IMC Director General and chieftain of Ohanaeze Ndigbo that “the primary concern of Ohanaeze Nddigbo is for there to be free and fair election in Anambra State”.
“The President General and members of National Executive Committee are concerned about free polls in Anambra State”.
“Ohanaeze has within its fold members of all political parties and as such cannot come out openly to support any candidate.
“However, it reserves the right to give direction to the Igbo race if the need arises and that direction can come through the President General. Therefore anyone purportedly supporting any candidate without the clearance from Ohaneze NEC is only seeking for financial aggrandizement”
On groups claiming affiliation to Ohanaeze Ndigbo and collecting funds from the APGA Campaign Office, Comrade Ibegbu said such groups except one, is neither known to Ohanaeze Ndigbo nor got any clearance from the President General.
“Ohanaeze will make known its stance on Anambra elections any moment from next week but the stance will still be that Anambra people will be allowed to vote the candidature of their choice”, Ibegbu added.
IMC said it is embarrassed that some groups all owned by a former Ohanaeze exco member including Eastern Youth Forum, Ofuma Women Organization, Continuity for Leadership and Empowerment, Ezumezu Omambaka Di Igbo Egwu, Igbo bu Igbo for APGA – Obiano-Okeke, Citizens United for Reconstruction and Equity, Citizens Reconstruction Initiative, among others, have siphoned various sums of money from the APGA Campaign Office.