Dr Orji Uzor Kalu , former governor of Abia State and the All Progressives Congress candidate for Abia North Senatorial election has warned Abia State Deputy Governor Hon Ude Oko against “trying nonsense with APC votes in Nkporo,” a community in Ohafia local government of Abia State “by using thuggery and violence to rig elections in the community “
He also accused the deputy governor of using intimidation in last elections to garner votes in the community adding that such “irresponsibility won’t be tolerated again”
The former governor said this on Thursday, January 31 during the All Progressive Congress ward to ward campaign In Nkporo, the hometown of the deputy governor.
He alleged that while others peacefully hunt for votes the deputy governor whom he described as a land grabber only plots to maim and harass voters during election.
Kalu who is the ‘Ochiagha of Nkporo’ described the attitude of Hon. Oko against Nkporo people as inhumane and wicked adding that his usual fraudulent activities has come to end .
It would be recalled that the deputy governor allegedly used his position to illegally claim and acquire lands that solely belong to Nkporo community and its neighbors.
“We know all the tricks of Oko and his PDP people . As the election is very near, I want you to warn him that the era of using threats in election is over . If you want to win election, work for your people because a good product sells itself . But resorting to hijacking of ballot boxes and multiple thumbprints when the people have rejected you is unacceptable. I understand he uses different security and recruited thugs to perpetrate those atrocities. If he tries that nonsense again , we will bundle him out of Nkporo .
“If you try to take our mandate by force, you will go by force. We will force you out of your place . This is not those days they abuse federal power. They don’t have it again. It is no longer business as usual . The best thing he can do is to use his own children for thuggery not your children; So that any casualty falling on any thug will be on his own children not yours “ he told the crowd
Also speaking differently, APC stakeholders in Nkporo including PDP defected members expressed their dissatisfaction with the ruling PDP. They lamented that Oko has been in power for 16 years and yet he attracted no single project to the community .
They decried that all the amenities including roads, electricity in the community were courtesy of the former governor during his tenure between 1999- 2007 . They assured Kalu of their support for APC stating they were tired of performance on the radio .
Among those that accompanied Kalu to the campaign were former chairman of World Igbo Congress , Professor Kalu Kalu Diogu, APC House of Representatives candidate for Ohafia-Arochukwu federal constituency Hon. Nnamdi Iro Orji, Dr Madukwe Ukaegbu, Prince Obidigbo Enwezoh, Chief Smart Ukoha, Hon.Paul Onwuka Uche , Rt.Hon Arua Arusi, Dr Orji Kalu Uka and others
