Exclusive: Inside Story Of Uche Ogah’s Defeat In Abia Guber

…relies on Otti to nullify poll at Tribunal
CHIKA NWABUEZE
Fresh facts have emerged on why the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate for Abia State in the just concluded general election, Dr. Uche Ogah lost to incumbent Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in spite of the former being the favorite choice of the electorates prior to the election proper.
As a matter of fact, political observers believed that APC would win the governorship election but the reverse happens to be the case, and it wasn’t about rigging said a concerned Abian. Inside sources, revealed to our Reporter in Umuahia that Ogah’s failure at the poll was largely due to his own making because he made some avoidable mistakes that worked against him in the short-run.
Those who followed Ogah’s campaigns confirmed to News Critic online that the APC leadership in Abia State was conspicuously missing at Ogah’s rallies, which suggested a crack in their relationship. “We know what we did to ensure he emerged the party’s candidate despite the fact that the party Chairman is from Ukwa-Ngwa. Immediately he got the ticket he abandoned the party and started promoting Pro-groups. As far as it is party politics, you don’t neglect the party, said a top party source.
Sources further said that due to this development in the party, and his failure to realize that this is party politics there was widespread discontentment over his campaigns by party officials. This created a lot of problems for him, especially at the grassroots where the party agents failed to protect his interest during the election.
Again, investigations revealed that Ogah had some personal issues he needed to sort out which he ignored to his peril. One of such issues was the promise he made to LGA Chairmen of APC before the primaries. It was gathered that Ogah promised to give them cars if he wins the party nomination. However, Ogah, after his victory at the primaries reneged on his promise and the LGA Chairmen started to doubt him and his seriousness with the election.
It is not only the LGA chairmen that he made promise to and failed to redeem it, competent sources disclosed that he made promises to different groups including the Oha Ukwa-Ngwa which initially rooted for his governorship , but he did not fulfill it.
The biggest blunder Ogah made according to findings was his failure to honour the agreement he allegedly entered into with the various security agencies, including the military, Police, the DSS, the NSCDC, and also with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, who were also eager to ensure Abia had a free and fair election. A Close source that was privy to the discussion told this reporter under the condition of identity protection that Ogah reneged on his agreement with these agencies, consequent upon which he lost their full support.
Despite assuring his supporters that he would militarize the state during the election, or at the worst case scenario got a stalemate that will guarantee a run-off, Ogah could not do anything in this line. “So all the boosting about federal might turned out to be a fluke. In fact, he was not ready for this election and so many loyalists doubted his ability, said another source.
Investigations further revealed that Ogah could not agree with the former governor and senator-elect, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu over the terms of the Ogah governorship. Sources said that Orji Kalu, who promised to bring in Armoured Personnel Carriers during the election did nothing, whereas in 2015, Senator T. A Orji brought tanks into the state for the election.
The consensus of view of many top party leaders is that Ogah should have accepted any condition OUK wanted to enable him win the election first. This was another mistake he made, said a concerned party man, adding that sometimes you need to play the fool in order to reach your political destination.
At any rate, News Critic reports that after the election was concluded, Ogah has not deemed it necessary to call a meeting of members of the old Bende political bloc even if OUK had injured him politically. Rather, he has remained in Abuja where he is fighting for a space in the government. Besides, although the APC as a political party is divided over its petition at the Election Petition Tribunal challenging the outcome of the governorship poll, it was learnt that Ogah has not met the lawyer or seen what was filed at the Tribunal. To many, it is only Dr. Alex Otti that has the capacity to nullify the Abia governorship poll for Ogah.
Party leaders and supporters are accusing Ogah of allowing this opportunity to slip through their hands and for not utilizing it, saying that governorship election is a huge project that one can easily borrow money to fund and repay later.