Presidential candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof. Peter Umeadi has accused National Chairman of the party, Dr. Victor Oye and Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State of frustrating his ambition.
He said he did not receive any form of support or encouragement from the duo, including funds, saying all breakthroughs he achieved throughout the electioneering period were personal efforts.
He said, “As I speak with you, nothing has ever come to me from the party, not one naira has been given to me as the candidate of the party by Soludo and Oye.
“Whatever efforts and breakthroughs in this presidential election has been on personal and self efforts.
“I’m not asking for the state money, they are not supporting me either; if they are supporting and campaigning for me, people will help in funding my activities.
According to Umeadi, although he enjoyed support from Local Government Chairmen of the party, they got disappointed over unfair treatment metted on him by Soludo and Oye.
“All you see in the National Campaign flag is APGA all the way, vote for Senate, House of Representatives, and the President is skipped.
“In other parties and under circumstances, the party National and State Assembly contestants have their bill boards and campaign posters with their presidential candidates, but none included me in their bill boards and campaign posters because they were instructed not to work for me.
“The party from day one, particularly the Governor sidelined me, he has not even received me, I went to see him, my name was listed in the manifest, he knew I was coming.
“The Deputy Chief of Staff even called me the day I went to see the Governor that my name was in the manifest, and I went and stayed for three hours 2pm to 5pm to see the Governor and he refused to see me.
“I was humiliated because the security men and others around saw what happened, his party’s presidential candidate waiting for three hours in his office without seeing him.
“They did everything to play down and frustrate me from the race, but I was determined, I matched on, refused to be discouraged and frustrated.
“They don’t want to project me but they do not have any option, am the face of APGA in Nigeria whether they like it or not.”
Also speaking, National Director of Operations, APGA, Presidential Campaign Council, Elder Afam Enemokwu accused the party leadership of abandoning its presidential candidate and party faithful.
In a telephone interview, Enemokwu who doubles as Delta State Chairman of APGA, alleged that the same treatment was being metted to its Governorship candidate in Delta Sate.
“Our presidential candidate Prof. Peter Umeadi is more qualified to win the election, because he has all it takes to be president of Nigeria, but we did not do what we are supposed to do before now due to lack of funds which is the only problem we had in presidential election.
“No doubt, Prof. Umeadi actually show in his personal capacity that he could do it, but the party and his Governor who was elected under APGA, has not shown him any support, in fact, the party leadership abandoned him and they are doing the same to our Delta State candidate,” he said.
Reacting, Soludo, through his Press Secretary, Christian Aburime described the allegations as false and unfounded.
He said the governor had, at no time abandoned the party’s flag-bearer, saying he had supported him in all ramifications.
“Don’t forget, the governor got his ticket under APGA and as the leader of the party, the onus lies on him to support the flag-bearer which he has done for Prof. Peter Umeadi,” he said.
