No Rift Between Me And Umeh, Says APGA Chair
Loading ...By Nedum Noble
The National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Oye has refuted allegations that there was battle of supremacy between him and the party’s former chairman, Chief Victor Umeh.
The clarification became necessary following speculation of his interest in the Umeh’s senatorial position.
Addressing newsmen in Awka, Oye said he had no ambition beyond the party’s chairmanship.
“That also is another speculation, and it is not true. Let me tell you the truth, I have no ambition beyond what I am doing today(APGA chairmanship). I am being sincere with you, and it is the truth. My primary interest is to move the party forward, and that is what I am doing,” he said.
He further hinted that the party has no plan yet to adopt President Muhammadu Buhari as its candidate for the 2019 presidential election, saying that it was not a decision the national chairman can take alone.
He called on those hoping to vie for elective positions in the 2019 general election on the platform of the party to get ready to contest for tickets.
Oye, who was reacting to insinuations that some members of the party, who were deemed powerful may be handed tickets on a platter of gold for the contest, said such insinuation was wrong.
He said what has kept the party strong was the transparency it exhibits internally, and that the party was not ready to destroy such trust because of a few individuals.
According to him, there would not be automatic ticket for any member of the party, including the former national chairman, Senator Victor Umeh, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah and wife of the demised leader of the party; Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu.
The APGA helmsman who denied knowledge of wife of the late Biafran Warlord, Ojukwu interest in the race, however stated that she and other members of the party who wished to vie for election on the platform of the party must be ready to contest for tickets in a fair primary election.
He said, “I do not know if the wife of the warlord is running for senate as you said, if she is interested, it is her right, but she must participate in the primary election.
“As for the insinuation that I favour Ukachukwu for the senate ticket of Anambra South and the governor(Chief Willie Obiano) favours Bianca while the former national chairman(Umeh) favours Ifeanyi Ubah, I can tell you that there is nothing like that.
“How can you even think of a thing like that? That is not true. Ukachukwu does not even know my house, he has never sent anyone to meet me about that. I have no favoured person among the three. They are all my friends.”
