BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
The national leadership of the African Democratic Congress has described the purported suspension of the Abia State governorship candidate of the party in the forthcoming election, Bishop Sunday Onuoha, and three other candidates as fake news.
A statement signed by the National Vice Chairman, ADC South East, Chilos Godsent on Thursday, urged Abia State electorate to disregard the fake news from one Norman Obinna and continue to give their unalloyed support to Onuoha and ADC in the state.
The party said Norman Obinna, who had announced the suspension was no longer a member of ADC as he had been expelled from ADC since September 2022 for offences bordering on misappropriation, leadership ineptitude and anti-party activities, stressing that the Chairman of ADC in Abia State is Obioma Onwukaike, contrary to Obinna’s claim of being the party chairman.
A certain medium (not The Point) had reported that Obinna suspended the party gubernatorial candidate and three others including Abraham Godson, candidate for Abia Central Senatorial District; Iyke Nwoke, the Umuahia Central State Constituency candidate; and one Osita Offor.
But, the National Vice Chairman ADC South East said the South East Zonal Secretariat of the party strongly suspected that Obinna was hired by opposition political parties to cause confusion in the ADC family in Abia State and to the minds of the Abia electorate by circulating such fake news.
He said the party was aware that many political parties in the state were very scared of the rapidly growing popularity of Bishop Sunday Onuoha and the ADC) in the state in the recent time coupled to the crises in the other political parties in the state, insisting that Obinna was being used to spoil the minds of voters against ADC governorship candidates and others.
“The purported suspension of the Governorship Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abia State, Bishop Sunday Onuoha and three ADC Candidates for the 2023 National Assembly Elections by one Norman Obinna is fake news
“The South East Zonal Secretariat of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has read with utmost disappointment the fake news been circulated by one Norman Obinna claiming to be the Chairman of ADC Abia State and purporting to have suspended the Governorship Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for Abia State, Bishop Sunday Onuoha and three other candidates of the Party in the forthcoming 2023 National Assembly Elections in Abia State.
“Consequent upon the above, we therefore urge the good people of Abia State to disregard this fake news from Norman Obinna which was targeted to malign the good image of our Candidates and the Party at large in order to get material rewards in return from their pay masters.
“We wish to inform the general public that the said Norman Obinna has been expelled from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) since September 2022 for offences bordering on misappropriation, leadership ineptitude and anti-party activities to mention but few. Thus, the said Norman Obinna is not a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and is not the Chairman of ADC in Abia State.
“The South East Zonal Secretariat of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) strongly suspects that the said Norman Obinna was hired by opposition political parties to cause confusion in the ADC family in Abia State and to the minds of the Abia State Electorates by circulating such fake news.
“We are strongly aware that many political parties in Abia State are very scared of the rapidly growing popularity of Bishop Sunday Onuoha and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abia State in the recent time coupled to the crises in the other political parties in Abia State.
“The good people of Abia State cannot sit and fold our hands and helplessly watch the enemies of Abians to trade off with the destiny of over six million Abia State residents.
“We therefore enjoin the Abia State Electorates to disregard that fake news from one Norman Obinna and thus, continue to give their unalloyed support to Bishop Sunday Onuoha and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abia State.
“In addition, the Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abia State is Hon. Obioma Onwukaike,” the statement read.
