The Abia State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Emma Nwaka, has refuted the claim by the Gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr. Alex Otti that he has been receiving pressure from members of the PDP to withdraw his petition at the election tribunal sitting in Umuahia.

Nwaka said in a statement that PDP has no reason to sponsor such entreaty when there is nothing at stake, noting that Otti’s claim that he is being persuaded to withdraw his case is obviously a disguised tactics to invite the PDP to negotiate with him as a face saving device.

He said the PDP will not accord him any such soft landing, adding that the party is determined to pursue the electoral case to its final conclusion. “PDP has no reason to sponsor such entreaty. You don’t make a plea for truce when you hold the ace. Perhaps, Dr. Otti is begging us to come and beg him as a face saving device. We will not accord him any such soft landing,” declared Nwaka.

The PDP chieftain further noted that Otti’s talk of reclaiming his mandate is a mere cheap propaganda as one cannot recover what one never had, saying that nobody could have approached Otti for a truce.

He accused the APGA guber candidate of looking for an easy escape having realised that the game would soon be up against him.

Nwaka further expressed faith and confidence in the judicial system, stating that Otti’s petition would soon be thrown out like that of his co-petitioners.

While congratulating Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for the great reputation he has achieved in a short time as an exemplary leader, he also described him as a great ambassador of the party and a symbol of the ideal of democracy.

•Photo shows Senator Nwaka.