‘Leave Onyejeocha alone’ — group tells Ben Kalu, LP rep

A group known as the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Stakeholders Forum says Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the house of representatives, and Amobi Ogah, a lawmaker in the green chamber, should leave Nkeiruka Onyejeocha alone.

Ogah defeated Onyejeocha, minister of state for labour and employment, to clinch the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi seat in the lower legislative chamber.

Before her appointment, the minister filed an appeal challenging Ogah’s victory and won. But Ogah appealed.

The court of appeal is yet to deliver a verdict.

There is also a rumoured cold war between Kalu and Onyejeocha who both hail from Abia state and are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The deputy speaker has since denied working against the minister.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, Eze Chikamnayo (pictured), the group’s chair, said the court of appeal should be allowed to do its job.

“That the change of legal representation by INEC which is a routine internal administrative process within INEC is now an issue that should be subjected to the notorious blackmailing tactics for which this faction of the labour party have become known for,” Chikamnayo said.

“That the noble justices of the court of appeal should be preempted and prevented from doing their constitutional duties in deference to the calculated falsehood and fabrications being bandied about in the social media.

“In view of the foregoing, we, the members of Isuikwuato-Umunneochi Stakeholders Forum wish to unequivocally state that INEC has the constitutional right to determine whether to retain or discontinue the Legal services of its lawyers and should therefore ignore the rantings and rabble rousing of the panicky faction of Labour Party.

“That the appeal session of the election petition tribunal court should be allowed to carry out its constitutional duties without stampede, molestation and intimidation.

“We believe in the tremendous victory of Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha will be validated once again by the appeal court to enable her to continue her trademark delivery of outstanding democratic dividends for the greater good of our dear constituency.

“That these undemocratic emissaries of destabilization should leave Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha alone and utilize the channels provided by law to make their case instead of whipping up sentiments or dragging the names of Mr President, His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Rt Hon Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, INEC and even the judges in the mud in a futile attempt to prejudice an ongoing court process.”