Politics

APGA Tackles Bianca Ojukwu, Says She Lost Senate Ticket after Getting Support

The National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Victor Ike Oye says Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu has not been fair to him or the party in spite of all the support and privileges she enjoyed.

Oye told newsmen in Awka that he deserved an apology for the misplaced and unwarranted attacks on him by the wife of the late Biafra warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu. He said though Bianca joined the Anambra South Senatorial contest for APGA ticket a bit late, she got a lot of assistance from the party to enable her clinch the nomination, and wondered why she lost.

Oye said he did not offend Bianca in any way and expressed surprise at Bianca’s invective on him and the party. He said rather than castigate the national chairman and the party, Bianca should have been explaining her loss after receiving so much logistics to enable her win.

Oye said Bianca’s media swipe on APGA did not befit her status as the mother of the party, but smacked more of anti-party activity.

“Bianca is my personal friend and there is no way I could have done any wrong against her.

“I must tell you that I was surprised when she started attacking me in the media. I think that was a very serious mistake on her part, because she is fighting the wrong person.

“I did not do Bianca anything. People were sent to conduct the primary election and they returned result to me and that was all I cared for.

“APGA gave her support, I wouldn’t want to announce it openly, but we gave her all the support she needed to win but she did not win.

“That is why I said she should tell why she lost, I will even question her later to explain to me why she lost after all the support we gave her.

“She calls herself Mother General of APGA, but as a mother she should not be castigating the party like that.

“Her action is anti-party, but we don’t want to go into all that, because I know that very soon she will know the truth as truth is immutable,” he said.

Oye said the report available to the party showed that primary election for Anambra South Senatorial District ticket which Bianca participated in held and ended well with a clear winner announced to the public.

The chairman, who recalled the party’s insistence on fair and open primary elections, said Bianca could have been awarded the ticket if she had indicated interest much earlier. Oye said it was wrong for Bianca to blackmail him or APGA because of her marital status, adding that such emotions and sentiments were not accommodated by the constitution of the party or any other in the country.

“The report I got is that it went well and that a winner emerged.

“The report said she was there, she participated and the votes were counted and result declared, including her own and the man won.

“They said we gave Senator Victor Umeh ticket unopposed yes, because he indicated interest early enough and he deserved it too. If Bianca had shown interest much earlier, I would have announced it that nobody else would be tolerated.

“But she joined the fray after Ukachukwu and Ifeanyi had declared and were already running.

“That she is a widow does not confer on her a special status; it is not in APGA constitution that once you are a widow we give you ticket?

“I don’t think it is in the constitution of any party in Nigeria that once you are a widow you get automatic ticket.

“Remember we said that it was going to be contested openly, and it was contested.

“I hold her in high esteem, I respect her as the wife of Ojukwu.

“But she has been castigating me in the media, she owes me an apology, a serious apology, because I have done nothing against her,” he said.

Bianca has been leading campaign for Oye’s resignation as chairman of APGA since the conclusion of the party’s primary where she lost nomination to run for Senate.