Senator Chris Ngige, who was the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the November 16 Anambra State governorship election, has alleged that the federal government gave Governor Peter Obi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) N8billion to prosecute the election won by the APGA candidate Chief Willie Obiano .Ngige claimed that the money given to Obi by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-controlled federal government under the guise of ecological fund was to ensure APGA’s victory at all cost, adding that the N8billion was not part of the N4billion public funds spent by Governor Obi before and during the election.He spoke in Owerri yesterday during the meeting of the chieftains of APC from the South-East geo-political zone. Ngige also alleged that the federal government placed security agencies at the beck and call of Governor Obi.
“Even the army and the Police were biased against the APC.They were arresting every vehicle with the APC logo. Some of our members were arrested in Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo states just to stop them from coming to Anambra,” Ngige said.In a swift reaction, Governor Obi described Senator Ngige as a bad loser, and advised him to congratulate the governor-elect, rather than make unsubstantiated allegations against him and the government of Anambra State.Obi who spoke through his chief press secretary, Mike Udah, said it was unthinkable for the federal government to direct a governor to use funds meant for ecological redemption to prosecute an election, adding that no reasonable person would take Ngige and his remarks seriously.“The allegation does not make sense to any reasonable person and no reasonable person will take that remarks and the author seriously.“Ngige has an exaggerated opinion of his political stature, but that is not enough reason for him to make wild and unsubstantiated allegations,” he said.Dr. Ogbonaya Onu, former national chairman of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) who also spoke at the meeting, congratulated APC members for their support during the Anambra election.“The federal government was afraid of APC, and so they ensured that the party came out third to stop us from going to the tribunal, but we have disappointed them and we will continue until the election is cancelled,” Onu stated.The host governor Rochas Okorocha who also doubles as chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum, urged APC members to always remain peaceful.
