The Candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, for Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency, Ebonyi State, in the 2023 general election, Rt. Hon Nwobasi Joseph, Wednesday boasted that an offer of billions of naira would not make him relinquish his Party's ticket to any person in the State.
The House of Representatives candidate of APGA stated this in Abakaliki, on the heels of his rumoured withdrawal from the race by some stakeholders in the Party.
Nwobasi who decamped from the All Progressives Congress, APC, to APGA, ahead of the 2023 general election, insisted that no amount of blackmail or attacks from any quarter would make him withdraw from the race.
He emphasized that his Certificate of Return was intact as the candidate of the Party for Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency, even as he explained that he has no intention to withdraw from the race or sell his Party ticket to the highest bidder.
He called on his supporters and party faithful to remain calm and law-abiding as he was prepared not only to contest the forthcoming general election but to also win against all odds.
"On the 27th of May, 2022, the APGA Senatorial primaries were conducted in Ebonyi State and I won as my name was submitted to our Party Secretariat in Abuja. I was issued my certificate of return
"But to my greatest surprise, I started having attacks from different quarters that I should step down. Am addressing this press conference to state publicly that I did not step down for Mr Anayo Nwoye, the House of Representatives member for Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency of the PDP.
"I do not have the intention of doing so. I contested the primary election and won. I said I will make it known to the general public. I want to advise my supporters to remain calm. The primary election I won is intact. Am not stepping down or withdrawing from anybody for any reason.
"I want to use this opportunity to call on INEC and all the relevant agencies that I did not withdraw from the 2023 general election. Should there be any notice to them that I Hon? Joseph Nwobasi withdrew from the race of contesting the House of Representatives position under APGA; I did not.
"Am starting it now, categorically that I did not withdraw and I do not have the intention of withdrawing from the race. Many persons have been sent to me on this matter. I did not withdraw.
"I have never in any Forum or gathering agree that I will withdraw and I will never withdraw. I decided on my own to join APGA and run for the House of Representatives; I bought the forms by myself. Didn't I see PDP, APC and other political parties before going to APGA? I decided on my own after consulting with my family, My brothers, sisters, my friends and well-wishers.
"Nobody from any other political party is backing me. Am only seeking justice. The electoral Act as amended is explicit in this issue; that before any candidate can be substituted, the person involved must put it in writing that he or she is withdrawing from the race.
'This has not been done by me and I do not have the intention of doing so. So, the law should take its course. I have never opened my mouth and requested any amount of money. Even though being offered billions of naira. My ticket is not for sale."
