Imo election: Uzodinma, Achonu, others absent at peace accord signing
Ahead of the November 11 governorship election in the state, Hope Uzodimma, the Imo State Governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress and the candidates of the Labour Party, Athan Achonu; All Progressives Grand Alliance, Tony Ejiogu; and New Nigeria Peoples Party, Ben Odunze; were all absent at the peace accord meeting organised by the National Peace Committee at Assumpta Cathedral in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Samuel Anyanwu, who came in and later left after he noticed that the candidates of the major political parties were not present.
And although Uzodimma, Achonu and Anyanwu sent their running mates, the organisers did not allow them to sign the peace accord insisting that the documents would not be signed by candidates in proxy.
Uzodinma’s running mate, Chinyere Ekomaru left after her party chairman, Macdonald Ebere, signed the dotted lines. The Labour Party chairman signed place of Achonu’s running mate, Tony Nwulu who was not also allowed to sign on behalf of his principal.
The chairman of the PDP in the state, Charles Ugwu, was also absent at the ceremony.
The running mate of the PDP candidate, Onyereri, who spoke to journalists shortly after, said that Anyanwu asked him to stay back and left because he had other engagements.
Meanwhile, the candidates of the Social Democratic Party, Bright Ekwebelem; Action Democratic Party, Steve Nwoga; Action Alliance, Jack Ogunewe; and other candidates were present and signed the peace accord.
It was later announced that the candidates who missed the ceremony could come to the office of the state Commissioner of Police to sign the documents on Thursday.
The Deputy Inspector General Of Police, Frank Mba, who is in charge of the election in the state, and other senior security agents were present during the ceremony which had a huge presence of security agents.
The signing of the peace accord, which took place at the is designed to provide a platform where all the gubernatorial candidates will share their manifestos, hopes, and aspirations with millions of Imolites who are desirous of hearing from the candidates.
