An aspirant for Ikwuano-Umuahia Federal Constituency and Ohuhu, Umuahia North LGA, born politician, Dr John Kwubiri Nwadinaobi, has rejected the mock election conducted for aspirants from Clan canvassing for the House of Representatives seat in 2023 poll, calling it a kangaroo selection.
Fielding questions from newsmen in Umuahia in his country home, Amaogwugwu, Ohuhu, Nwadinobi who was also contested for the seat with the incumbent representative, Hon Sam Onuigbo in 2019 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but lost, said he would only accept a transparent and credible mock election by those aspiring for the seat from Ohuhu Clan.
According to him, some people who are sympathetic with Chief Obi Aguocha, the President General of Ohuhu Clan Union, asked aspirants from Ohuhu at a time they were receiving a governorship aspirant on Monday in Ohuhu to report to the house of Aguocha, adding that it was at that house that they spuriously held the mock selection that produced Aguocha as a consensus aspirant from Ohuhu Clan.
He insisted that he is still in the race for the House of Representatives seat because to him, “I’m more acceptable to the people. My position is that it was hijacked by supposed delegates who ought to be neutral and therefore it cannot stand.
“The mock election was conducted by elegates who also claimed to have bought expression and interest nomination forms for Chief Obi Aguocha. If there’s any body that should be selected, it’s my humble self, John Kwubiri Nwadinaobi, because I have the experience and the knowledge to win the main election.
“I’ve vied for this election twice. I contested for the House of Representatives seat in 2014, 2018 under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and by this I have gathered enough experience and knowledge and knows what it takes to win the main election”, he added.
The aspirant further expressed shock that his people could exhibit such primitive lbehaviour in the 21st century, saying that the four other aspirants have condemned and rejected the process and would want a repeat of it “otherwise all of us will slug it out at the PDP primary coming on Sunday, May 22, 2022”.
On whether that would not lead to a repeat of the 2019 episode when many Ohuhu sons and daughters came out to contest the PDP House of Representatives Primary and were defeated by the incumbent, Nwadinobi said if Ohuhu people repeat the same mistake this time, they will face similar defeat.
“In the so called mock election, I had no returning officer, no representation whatsoever and they want me to accept that. You know Ohuhu is the pacesetter of politics in the Southern Nigeria, but unfortunately, what that body did negates that leadership and principles of fairness, equity and justice which Ohuhu Clan is known for”, he argued.
Uche Nwosu is a two time Shell Petroleum PLC award winner in the year 2000;
He won the Shell Award on Investigative Journalism and Environmental Cleanliness.
