African Action Congress, AAC, governorship candidate in Rivers State, Biokpomabo Awara has expressed disappointment at the resignation of his running mate, Akpo Bomba Yeeh and his reported defection to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Awara debunked claims by his erstwhile running mate that the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and the APC, had made them sign resignation letters.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, yesterday, Awara said the allegations against the minister were false and noted that both Amaechi and APC offered him and his party unconditional support, owing to their shared ideology and love for Rivers State and its people.
He also dismissed his running mate’s ‘compromising’ actions as pathetic, claiming that he had himself been offered 3 billion naira to drop his ambition, but he rejected it and his deputy was aware.
“When the story of his resignation first came out as a rumour, that Rivers State Governor have offered him 200m naira to abandon me, I had no reason to believe it because that Elder Yeeh was aware I had earlier turned down an offer of N3billion offered me some days ago through the governor’s associates. I discussed this with my running mate and outlined why we must not succumb to the lure from the governor or any interest group. I was convinced that we were in agreement because he neither expressed nor alluded to a difference in opinion on the matter.
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“When the rumour became rife by Sunday, I made several attempts to reach my deputy without success. I started developing some strange feelings pointing to a possible sell-out by him.
“I am aware that a key component of their plot is to attempt to smear the towering image and figure of the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi. I want to state categorically that all the accusations made by my running mate against the minister are blatant lies poorly crafted by his paymaster, Governor Wike and associates, and you could see how tough it was for him to read the script handed to him.
“Let me be clear. I was never asked to and did not sign any letter of resignation. I am aware that my deputy also was not asked to or signed any letter of resignation. My deputy, Elder Akpo Bomba Yeeh is believed to be under tremendous financial pressure based on his statements.
Meanwhile, the AAC gubernatorial candidate, Biokpmabo Awara has officially filed a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC against its Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State, Obo Effanga, whom the party accused of gross incompetence and bias.
In its petition, the AAC laid its grievances and demands bare to INEC and forwarded same to other reputable human rights and international bodies.
