A statement from the Igbo Youth Council (IYC) has linked the contentious disqualification of Professor Chukwuma Soludo as APGA’s prospective flag bearer for the 2014 Anambra State governorship poll to an alleged N600 million payment by Governor Peter Obi to the party’s National Chairman, Sir Victor Umeh.
The IYC, described as a coalition of 22 Igbo youth and student groups, made the allegation in a statement issued on Wednesday. It was signed by Sir Mike Ozoemena, Barrister Osita Nkanna and Dr. Clems Adizua. The group dared Chief Umeh, a Sir Knight of the Catholic Church, to swear before the Blessed Sacrament if the claim is false.
According to the IYC, Governor Obi paid the money so that Chief Umeh would permit him to choose APGA’s candidate. The group said Chief Umeh had earlier personally persuaded Soludo to join APGA and accept the ticket, promising him the candidacy at a July 23, 2013 meeting. It added that Umeh swore he would never allow Governor Obi to impose his “minion” as the party’s candidate. Insiders reportedly identified former Senate President Ken Nnamani as one of the prominent Nigerians at that meeting.
The IYC further alleged that Governor Obi informed Chief Umeh and others that President Goodluck Jonathan did not want Soludo as the APGA candidate. It claimed Obi engaged in a campaign of calumny at the Villa to convince the President and his wife that Soludo was nursing presidential ambition. The group asked whether Chief Umeh “lured Soludo in simply to raise his bargain price with Gov. Obi”.