Imo Senatorial Bye-Election: APC has no consensus candidate -Nlemigbo
Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Imo State, Prince Marcellius Nlemigbo on Wednesday debunked report that the nine-member Panel on a consensus candidate for the Imo North Senatorial primary has picked one of the aspirants, Sir Frank Ibezim as the consensus candidate.
Nlemigbo who made this assertion in Owerri, Imo State said no such report was adopted by the party on consensus candidate saying that the panel headed by the Secretary to the State Government Cosmas Iwu has not submitted any report to Governor Hope Uzodinma
According to the report, Ibezim was said to have scored four votes to beat 11 other aspirants who appeared before the Cosmos Iwu-led panel set up to choose a consensus candidate from among aspirants.
Senatorial aspirants aspiring to occupy the vacant seat formerly held by late Sen. Ben Uwajumogu include Hon. Mathew Omegara, Senator Athan Achonu, Chief John Onyegbule, and Hon. Bright Nwachukwu.
Other aspirants are Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, Hon. Chikwem Onuoha, Rt. Hon Acho Ihim, Hon. Mark Uchendu, Chief Eze Okoro, Prof Osy Nwebo, and Adanne Chidinma Uwajumogu, Pharm. Chiemela Joe-Obi.
One of the aspirants who pleaded not to be mentioned told the Nation “there is no consensus on anybody, forget people who are desperate to sell the news. How can you have a consensus and about 11 people bought the form. They didn’t even wait for the panel to write a report, they went to town to talk about consensus. Anybody saying consensus must have a letter written to him from the panel. There must be an official position on the matter. “
Nlemigbo also agreed that the party has not picked any aspirant as a consensus candidate.
“The party has not picked any person as a consensus candidate but we are thinking towards that direction.
“As at now what is uppermost in our minds is people should buy the form first. If you are talking of a consensus candidate and you are not an aspirant, you are not qualified. When all the aspirants emerge we will look at the possibility of knowing which one is best.
“So, I am yet to get the result of the panel’s report. More so no report has come to the Governor,” he stated.