By Nwafor Okafor, Awka
A group, Anambra Central Peoples Forum (ACPF) has condemned what it called the conspiracy of the All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA) against its former National Chairman, Senator Victor Umeh, by edging him out in the party’s primary election for the 2023 Senatorial poll.
Umeh, who recently joined the Labour Party, contested the APGA senatorial ticket with the House of Representatives member representing Anaocha/Dunukofia/Njikoka constituency, Dozie Nwankwo, wherein Umeh polled 151 votes, while Nwankwo scored 162 votes. The third person in the contest, Uzuegbuna Okagbue, got 10 votes.
Reacting to the development on Thursday, in a statement made available to our correspondent in Awka, the Anambra State capital ,ACPF said it had endorsed Umeh’s defection to LP, insisting that he would achieve his ambition of clinching the seat for Anambra Central Senatorial District.
The Chairman of the forum, Mr. Chris Achebe in the statement , said, “We have equally condemned the conspiracy meted out against Umeh by the leadership of APGA during the party’s primary election, which resulted to his defeat by Dozie Nwankwo.
” Umeh is unstoppable; he will win the Anambra Central Senatorial seat election. He was there before for 17 months and he performed excellently well; he should be allowed to go to the senate again to provide quality representation to the people of the district, and in fact the Igbo in general. He made positive impact and provided democratic dividends to the people within the period he was in the senate.
Achebe alleged that the Anambra Central Senatorial District APGA primary election that produced Nwankwo above Umeh was flawed and did not reflect the people’s wish.
Before Achebe’s allegation, Umeh had accused the APGA leadership of conspiracy against him, stating that his defection to LP had opened the door that was temporary closed against him in APGA
Umeh added,”The decision on who will represent Anambra Central Senatorial district will be made by the people and not a handful of persons.”
