It’s primitive, baseless to say there was no bye-election in Imo –Duke, APC spokesman - Punch Newspapers
The Imo State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Cajetan Duke, tells CHIDIEBUBE OKEOMA that the Peoples Democratic Party could not have won the election after an occupant of the same seat in the House of Assembly abandoned the positionThe outcome of the bye-election was a clear reflection of the sentiment of the people of Ngor Okpala. The people made a clear statement through the ballot.
On a personal note, I am so elated that my people of Ngor Okpala responded positively to my humble plea, because at a point, it became like I was in the ballot. As a member of the State Working Committee of the party and of course the spokesman, I saw the election as a defining project, an assignment that must be delivered. I ensured many ranks were closed, reconciliation made.
The Imo State Chairman of the PDP, Charles Ugwu, specifically accused the APC in the state of conniving with the Independent National Electoral Commission to thumbprint ballot papers. What is your view on this? Honestly, like I said earlier, I strongly do not know where that allegation is coming from. Thumb-printing ballots with the BVAS technology employed? That sounds bizarre. I think the state chairman of the PDP, with his age, thinks we are still where we used to be when he ran his failed controversial governorship project in 2007. Our electoral system has gone beyond that. Check the margin; 9,000 plus against 7,000 plus votes, is a clear indication that it was a free, fair and credible contest.
We have won three bye-elections in the state, one senatorial seat, one federal constituency and then this last one. It’s an indication that the future is bright for our party in the state. Our governor on the other hand is busy providing leadership and critical infrastructure for the economic prosperity and growth of the state through the 3R-mantra of his shared prosperity administration.