Anambra APC May Disqualify 2 Aspirants in Oyi/Ayamelum Federal Constituency Over Attack on Publicity Secretary

The Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, may disqualify two aspirants for the Oyi/Ayamelum Federal Constituency House of Representatives ticket over attacks on the party’s Publicity Secretary, Sir Valentine Ilobi, on Saturday and Sunday.

Sir Valentine Ilobi was attacked at the party office in Awka on Sunday by thugs allegedly linked to the two aspirants. 

He was also assaulted earlier at Nteje, the headquarters of Oyi Local Government Area, during the party’s primary election on Saturday.

The party leadership has directed the Publicity Secretary to submit a formal report on the attacks.

 If the report implicates the aspirants, they may be disqualified from the contest.

Four aspirants are contesting for the Oyi/Ayamelum Federal Constituency ticket, with collation taking place at Nteje.

 Ilobi said he was beaten mercilessly and sustained injuries to his face and head.

Narrating his ordeal, Ilobi stated that he was posted to Oyi Local Government Area as Returning Officer for the National Assembly primary election. 

“One of the aspirants from Nteje came with his thugs demanding the local government result sheets of the election. I told them it was not in my custody. The party gave every Returning Officer result sheets for the wards, while the local government result sheets are kept at the state headquarters of the party,” he said.

He said about 15 thugs descended on him, beating him with various weapons, forcing him to flee for his life to the home of the President General of Nteje Town. 

“I was held hostage at the PG’s house for three hours. I had to call the Police Officer in charge of the Rapid Response Squad, formerly SARS. When they arrived, the thugs, led by an aspirant from Nteje, were still there. The aspirant had  ordered them to attack me, saying Nteje Town had never produced a member of the House of Representatives,” he said.

Still recovering from the attack at Nteje, Ilobi said he arrived at the APC headquarters in Awka on Sunday only to be ambushed again by about eight hoodlums allegedly led by another aspirant from Nkwelle Ezunaka community.

“As I arrived at the Central Collation Centre in Awka, they attacked me again, demanding the result sheets for the primary election. It took the intervention of security operatives at the party headquarters to save my life,” 

“At the party headquarters, I saw one of the aspirants in the company of about seven or eight thugs. They rushed at me, tried to snatch the result sheets, and damaged my phone, bag, and other personal belongings.”he said.

Ilobi said the party Chairman, Sen. Emma Anosike, ordered that he be taken to hospital. He added that Lynda Ikpeazu, a former House of Representatives member for Onitsha North and South and one of the aspirants, instructed her driver and personal assistants to take him for treatment.

Ilobi remains hospitalised. According to a medical personnel at the hospital, he requires a chest X-ray, a scan, and further examination of his waist, which appears to have been badly affected.

The party’s primaries for the House of Representatives seat were declared inconclusive following the attack on the Publicity Secretary at Nteje. 

Party officials have ordered a fresh election in Oyi/Ayamelum Federal Constituency, with the final result expected tomorrow.

By Monday, the Publicity Secretary is expected to have submitted his report to the chairman, after which a decision will be taken on the fate of the two aspirants.