Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu
The saying: ‘silence is golden’ is always very apt but the first lady of Ondo State, and All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial aspirant for Imo East, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, evidently rebuffed the maxim, following her experience at the APC senatorial primary.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu withdrew from the race abruptly citing irregularities in the contest. The Ondo State First Lady, who is fondly called by her traditional title, Ada Owerri, cited intimidation and the use of force, among others, as her reasons for withdrawing from the party’s primaries.
At her declaration for the post, she said her aspiration to represent her constituency in the Senate was informed by the need to address the gross under-development and infrastructural deficit in her maiden home of Emeabiam in Owerri West local council and the other eight local councils that make up the zone.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu, who hails from Emeabiam in Owerri west LGA of the state had to compete with four other aspirants — Alex Mbata, Kemdi Opara, Jerry Chukwueke and Ugochukwu Nwachukwu, for the legislative ticket.
Her withdrawal paved way for the emergence of a business mogul, Prince Alex Mbata, as the candidate of the party in the Owerri zone.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu had on the day of the election cried foul while the primary election to pick a candidate of the APC for Imo East was going on.
She alleged that some forces in the party skewed the primaries in favour of a particular candidate.
In a statement titled, ‘Notice of withdrawal from senatorial race’, she said: “I wish to declare my decision to withdraw from the Senatorial Primaries of Imo East Senatorial zone. This decision has become necessary following brazen irregularities, use of force and intimidation meted out on my person and supporters.
“I have received reliable information that arrangements have been concluded by some high authorities within the party to scheme the whole process in favour of a particular candidate. Delegates are being harassed and intimidated to comply with this directive.
“I believe in free and fair elections, equity and a level playing ground. The circumstances that have shrouded events preceding this primaries have proven to be far from these ideals which I hold so dearly. It is expedient therefore for me to withdraw from this race which I believe is also in the interest of the party in the state.
“I must, at this juncture, appreciate Ada Owere team, all my friends and supporters who stood by me during this period. Special thanks to the delegates who believed in me but were denied the opportunity to express their support.”
