Anambra 2021: Godfathers offered N.5Bn for LP ticket, Nat chairman reveals 

From Chuks Moses, Awka

Some unscrupulous godfathers of Anambra politics were persistent in trying to buy-over the governorship ticket of the Labour Party, having offered fifty million Naira at the first instance and later upped the ante to half a billion (N500m).

The shocking revelation was made Saturday afternoon at the groundbreaking flag off campaign of the party I Awka by its national chairman, Barrister Julius Abure.

Declaring that the “Labour Party is not for sale”, Barrister Abure disclosed that, “…after our governorship primary on June 11, 2021 some political godfathers/merchants came to my office to offer us N50m for the ticket. But I angrily drove them out.

“So, again after the official opening of our campaign office some days later, they came again making even a higher offer of N500m for me to sell our ticket to them…”

Stopping short of naming the culprits, Abure said that at this second visit they put up all business antics to convince him that they didn’t want Engr Obiora Agbasimalo to become the next governor of Anambra state. But he warned them to keep off LP as its not for sale at all.

The chairman bemoaned the malaise that has befallen the nation’s political space which has manifested openly in almost all the other parties in Anambra state, especially the so-called big ones.

“They have been fighting and tearing at each other, within and amongst members; confusing themselves and each other with court orders after court orders, that they have continued to confuse not just themselves but even the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“LP is the only party that is at peace. Because we have no godfathers within or outside. Little wonder it was easy for us to choose very energetic, vibrant, intelligent, articulate and educated governorship and deputy governorship candidates below 45 years.

Abure used the opportunity of the flagoff to call on Preseident Muhammadu Buhari to “speak to his boys in the National Assembly to allow electronic transmission of results. That will give hope to candidates like Obiora Agbasimalo who has overwhelming appeal of the masses assurance of victory.

Agbasimalo while receiving the campaign flag of the party from the National Chairman commended the crowd for coming willingly to identify with his Anambra Renewal Movement train. He said that journey to take over Anambra’s Agu-Awka seat of government has just begun in ernest and would not waver until victory is achieved on Nov 6,2021 poll day.