Mr Iheanacho Ezeakor, the young man who won the presidential primaries of the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA) has cried over what he calls “crass impunity” as the National chairman of the party, Malam Shittu Mohammed, has inserted his name as the flag bearer while offering him the vice presidential slot.
In a press statement, Mr Ezeakor questioned how the chairman would double as a presidential candidate in our type of presidential democracy, saying it was against “the rules”.
Mr Ezeakor, who believes he stands a better chance to compete against President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Peoples Congress (APC) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), promised to make available electricity 24/7, good roads, potable water and world class health facilities.
FULL TEXT OF THE STATEMENT
The National Chairman of the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA), Malam Shittu Mohammed, has declined to issue my ticket as the flag bearer of the party for the 2019 presidential race to me.
It all started during the national convention of my party APDA. I had gone through the process of screening as an aspirant; I fulfilled all requirements. I was the only one that showed interest and was screened. We were supposed to hold a primary election, but for whatever reasons my party didn’t. I started suspecting hanky panky when the party failed give me what I merited – the ticket as the party’s flag bearer for the presidential race 2019.
They didn’t give me any reason. At the convention, my supporters observed a group of people trying to make trouble and upon questioning, my supporters were told that that they are Reverend Pastor King’s supporters and that the party chairman had taken so much money from them with the promise he would make their leader, Pastor King, who has been in prison, the presidential candidate of our party. He assured them that he (the Pastor) will be released by the Federal Government once APDA makes him the flag bearer of the party for the presidential race.
But that when they saw me standing as the only presidential candidate of the party, they were disappointed. When my supporters reported that to me, I was dumb founded because I never expected the chairman to behave in such a questionable way.
I have had series of meetings with the party executives and I was promised that they will issue me the ticket, but failed. At a very recent meeting, the Chairman promised that he will send my name to INEC, but he did not.
Last week Wednesday, I was forced to ask the party committee if there is any other candidate and they confirmed to me that there was non other apart from me.
However on Friday, I received a call from my party that they have decided to make me the running mate to their flag bearer and upon inquiry, I was told the Chairman of the party is now the party’s flag bearer for the 2019 presidential race.
I was just too surprised that this is actually happening. The caller told me it was an official call and that it was the final decision of the party. I was surprised because there was never a time that the Chairman showed interest. At the national convention, I was the only candidate that stood as the flag bearer. He did not contest with me at any primary. He was never screened.
Apart from all these, how can a sitting party chairman be, at the same time, a presidential candidate in an election in our type of democratic system?
