Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has encouraged Nigerians to ignore claims that Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is backing All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate Bola Tinubu three days before the presidential election.
Contrary to rumours, Ikpeazu is supporting Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, rather than Bola Tinubu, according to Ohanaeze.
Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the secretary general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, claimed that the false rumours that Ikpeazu was backing Tinubu rather than Obi were the work of Igbo adversaries.
Isiguzoro claimed that due to competence, equality, and justice, Ikeazu will never endorse Tinubu.
“Ohanaeze desires to warn Ndigbo to avoid the bogus news being circulated right now that Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, the governor of Abia State, is endorsing Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu for president of the All Progressives Party, APC,” the statement says.
“Typically, Ohanaeze, the Igbo people’s highest socio-cultural institution, is not required to reply to such. The 2023 presidential election is just a few days away, thus we see this made-up tale as an attempt by Ndigbo’s adversaries to create strife and mistrust among the ranks of Igbo leaders at this crucial time.
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According to our records, Dr. Ikpeazu is one of the Igbo governors who has been a strong supporter of Peter Obi’s presidential campaign as the candidate of the Labour Party, LP, due to his belief that qualified candidates should be supported regardless of party affiliation.
He also thinks that Nigeria won’t be able to flourish until it is run with equity, justice, and fairness. It is the main point on which the G-5 Governors differ with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate.
He has never concealed the fact that he supports the Igbo presidency project. Ikpeazu has additionally served as a pillar of resistance for the Obidient movement in Abia State. In the past, he has interacted with their leaders, and more recently, he has appointed several of them as his assistants.
“In Abia State, Obidients are not being persecuted or intimidated like they are in certain other Igbo states, quite the contrary. He even provided venue and logistics for Obi’s recent campaign events in Abia State in the spirit of Igbo togetherness.
“Finally, we want to let these Ndigbo adversaries and their hired Igbo collaborators know that their plan has utterly failed. All Igbo Governors, Igbo Leaders, and the Igbo Nation are urged by Ohanaeze Ndigbo to continue supporting Mr. Peter Obi on the grounds of competence and equity.
