'APC Made Me Suffer 10 Times More Than PDP' - Okorocha
The Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha, has said that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has made him suffer ten times more than what he would have experienced if he were in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The governor, however, said that he still remains a very loyal member of the APC despite all ways to frustrate him, The Nation reports.
Okorocha also criticized the APC’s national chairman, Adams Oshimhole, and other chieftains of the party for working with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to frustrate his senatorial bid.
While addressing newsmen in Abuja, he said it is because of them that he has not been given the certificate of return as the duly elected senator for the Imo West senatorial district.
The Imo state governor said he regretted the fact that he faced more than what he left the PDP for, adding that there are efforts in the APC to damage his political career.
“The evil I feared in the PDP has befallen me ten times in the APC. Last week, I wrote a letter to INEC for the first time myself, informing INEC of their wrongdoings and illegal actions taken by INEC to withhold my certificate on mere allegations of duress which was never founded, neither was there any committee set up to investigate the matter.
“So, INEC on their own believe the reports of their Returning Officer without investigating the authenticity of the investigation. So, there was no issue of fair hearing at all.
“What is important here is that INEC does not have the power to withhold the certificate of return having declared the result. I believe the INEC chairman is up to a game with the chairman of the APC who is being used as the people to frustrate my coming to the Senate and this is politically motivated. I’ve given enough time that INEC might correct itself and do the needful and issue me my certificate of return but to no avail,” he said.
He said his certificate of return was withheld because the election went in his favor, saying he wonders who the commission will give it to if not him.
In his words: “Many things have happened so far and these should be of concern to everyone. INEC that made the submission to the tribunal have gone back requesting to withdraw it because the submission was defending the declaration by INEC.
“But because the submission seems to be in my favor, they have said they want to withdraw the affidavit which is out of time. The withdrawal was made by one of their staff, who said that Festus Okoye, a Commissioner in INEC, has threatened to sack him if he does not withdraw it…
“I wonder what they want to do with the certificate, if they don’t give it to me, who will they give it to?…”