Mr. Splendour Oko Eze, the factional gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in Ebonyi State, has denied collecting a bribe from the Governor David Umahi-led state government.
Oko-Eze, who hails from Afikpo North Local Government Area, spoke to newsmen in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
He was reacting to the allegations making the rounds in the state that he collected N20 million naira from the All Progressive Congress, APC gubernatorial candidate, Francis Nwifuru and the state government.
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DAILY REPORT NG reports that loyalists to Mr. Oko-Eze’s rival, Edward Nkwagu had accused him of picking the LP ticket in error and collecting money from the Ebonyi State government with plans to allegedly frustrate the LP from winning election in the 2023 general election in the state.
According to the loyalists: “He picked the Labour Party’s governorship ticket earlier before the owners of the party decided to cede the ticket to Edward Nkwagu who’s from Ebonyi North zone, believed to be the appropriate place the ticket of the party should go to, to garner votes and formidable structure ahead of the 2023 elections.
“Splendour by all standards is said to not have the capacity to win the election even at his own polling boot. However, in line with the new electoral act, he’s at liberty to cede the ticket to someone else or retain it. But his clinging to the ticket so tightly is not without a purpose of self-aggrandisement.
“There’s intelligence that exposed him as reaching a deal with the APC gubernatorial candidate in the state. The intelligence confirms that he bargained with the forces at the sum of N20 million” Nkwagu’s loyalist stated.
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In a swift reaction, Mr. Splendour Oko Eze said: “This is propaganda and the handiwork of Edward Nkwagu because I refused to withdraw for him.
“It’s not true. Edward Nkwagu is doing everything to tarnish my image because I refused to bow to his intimidation”
