The APC in Imo state has described the recent careless press statement from the PDP as unfortunate. In a press release made available to the press, the state publicity secretary of the APC in Imo state, Hon Cajetan Duke stated that
"The attention of the Hon. Macdonald Ebere, PhD led- All Progressives Congress, APC, Imo State has been drawn to another careless, irresponsible and utterly mischievous press statement credited to the tactless opposition PDP against the person of Imo East senatorial candidate, Prince Dr Alex Mbata."
He stressed that its September 10, 2022, press release has really exposed the current fear and desperation of the Engr. Ugwu- led Ihedioha's faction of the opposition party in Imo State, the PDP. In the apparently irrelevant release, he said that the PDP, obviously more confused now than ever before, like a headless dying fowl - making its last meaningless and uncoordinated move, demanded for the arrest and prosecution of Prince Alex Mbata (PAM), the Imo East candidate for the 2023 senatorial election.
Continuing he said that the PDP, known for always flogging a dead horse, hinged its infantile public show of shame on what it termed IMSU Whitepaper Indictment: Imo PDP Demands Arrest, Prosecution of Alex Mbata. The PDP, in a baseless effort to substantiate its watery claims, senselessly added thus: Mbata's Senatorial Ambition, Height of Moral Decadence.
He notes that "It is regrettable that in all of its disjointed petition and allegation against Mbata, the PDP couldn't put down a line, no matter how flimsy or weak, where the white paper it is brandishing as a lead evidence indicted the APC senatorial hopeful."
He however stressed that this clearly shows that the Imo PDP is obviously afraid of PAM in view of his unmatched pedigree, immaculate performance, total acceptability, noble achievements, particularly in the area of philanthropy and community services.
"Ordinarily we could have ignored such sloppy and needless attack on our candidate because, PDP's claim is not only false, misleading and defective but it is in its entirety a calculated move to discredit the integrity of a man who has been the greatest nightmare of the Mbutu Mbaise gang of the opposition PDP. It is however important to state that the white paper couldn't have indicted Mbata without clearly mentioning Mbata's name, without stating the offence he committed, without graphically putting down how much he embezzled, even going public with his accomplices."
"We are all aware of the highly commendable Oputa Panel chaired by the Socrates of Nigerian Supreme Court, the late Justice Chukwudifo Oputa. While ruling on the controversial Gulf Windfall, pointed out the amount of money in dispute, how much that was in the national coffers, and how much that was expected to have accrued to the national purse. And the panel methodologically penned down, in its well detailed report, the reasons the country's military president at the time of the incident, retired General Ibrahim Babangida, should appear for questioning."
"As a matter of fact, an invitation was sent to Babangida to appear before the panel."
The release further went on to state that sadly, in the case of Mbata, nothing of such as narrated above has happened. The PDP, as a noisy neighbour, is only busy calling an innocent man out, purely on the grounds of campaign of calumny aimed at disparaging his image, character and integrity just to smear him in the name of bringing him down before the 2023 election - it is all politics and we totally understand why.
"We challenge Imo PDP, a party that has lost the confidence of the masses and electorate in the state, to make public, of it facts to back its pointless argument, where the IMSU White paper indicted Mbata as it is erroneously insisting. If you allege, the onus is on you to substantiate and prove."
"The fact is that, PDP, is wrongly standing on a shallow foundation of the Imo State University Visitation Panel which rightly established that Mbata was Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of IMSU at the time the Visitation Panel, which was headed by Venerable (Prof.) Chinedu Nebo, investigated the issues between 2012 and 2019."
"That Mbata was the pro chancellor and chairman, governing council of IMSU is not enough evidence and guarantee that he had hand in the alleged filthy deals that took place during his his tenure."
"While the State Executive Committee of APC, cannot seize to appreciate the unflinching support of the good people of Owerri in particular and nde Imo in general, we urge the people of Imo East senatorial zone in particular to remain steadfast in their solidarity and support to PAM, and other candidates of the party. We advise them to completely disregard the PDP and their evil orchestrations."
"We are glad and proud that in the face of these mindless and ill conceived media trial, Mbata in his usual philanthropic and charismatic nature, is to the glory of God, still busy going about impacting positively in the economic life of the people, through his PAM Humanitarian Foundation to the admiration of all and sundry."