By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Former National chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Senator Victor Umeh, has said that he lost the party’s senatorial primary election because of a conspiracy among party leaders.

Umeh, who stated this during an interview in Awka on why he lost, said that the momentum was huge adding that those who didn’t want him there knew they would not be able to stop him easily, hence they resorted to all sorts of antics.

He said: “I have heard some of them say the primary election was free and fair, but how can it be free and fair when important party leaders were intimidating delegates, calling them and telling them not to vote for me.

“There was a clarion call for me to join this senatorial race, I consulted extensively and they gave me their nod, before I declared.

“The momentum was huge and those who didn’t want me there knew they would not be able to stop me easily and they resorted to all sorts of antics. I have heard some of them say the primary election was free and fair, but how can it be free and fair when important party leaders were intimidating delegates, calling them and telling them not to vote for me.

“Party leaders worked against me, and when they saw that that was not working, they resorted to sharing $1,000, $800 and $600 to delegates. We know the state of the country’s economy, you won’t expect someone who is hungry to reject money or even be able to differentiate between the mission and vision of some people.

“After the declaration of that result, some people who were there started calling me and telling me to insist on a recount of the votes that there were things that they saw, I said it is gone. I can’t go back to ask for a recount. Whether they took my votes and gave it to another person or not, that is gone, and I have let that go.”

Umeh however expressed satisfaction with the delegates saying that he got 151 votes and lost the primary election to Hon Nwankwo by just 11 votes.

On why he joined Labour Party, LP, Umeh described it as soul-lifting, having reunited with former state governor, Mr Peter Obi, whom he labelled a brother.

He added: “The only thing that is soul lifting spiritually for me was that when the result was announced, my estranged brother, Mr Peter Obi, was among the earliest people to call me to express sadness over my loss.

“He (Obi) said to me that no matter what, what I’m doing for Igbo people, what I was doing for APGA, I did not deserve that kind of treatment. He asked me to consider reaching out to Labour Party leaders, if I want to continue this struggle. I told him I will reflect over it.

“I consulted and I got overwhelming support that I should move now. So what has happened now is that the door that was temporarily closed is now open. The decision on who will represent Anambra Central Senatorial district will be made by the people of the electorates, and not by a handful of persons who will be sharing money.

Umeh contested for the Anambra Central Senate ticket but was defeated by Hon Dozie Nwankwo, who is deemed to be his political son.