Governor Willie Obiano and the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra have been accused of becoming jittery and of resorting to vandalising the campaign billboard of the United Progressive Party (UPP) and its governorship candidate, Chief Osita Chidoka.

The allegation is contained in a statement issued in Awka on Friday and signed by Viola Ifeyinwa Okolie, Director Media, Osita Chidoka Campaign.

The statement reads: “Governor Willie Obiano and his weakened faction of the now almost moribund All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have begun a reign of terror on our great party, the pan-Igbo United Progressive Party (UPP).

“Since the conclusion of our governorship primary and their failure to stop the emergence of frontline contender in the Anambra governorship race, Chief Osita Chidoka as the UPP candidate, Governor Obiano and his APGA have been thrown into a frenetic mode in their pathetic effort to cling to power even when it is clear to them that the game is up.

“Frightened by our intimidating and now almost ubiquitous presence in the state, Governor Obiano and APGA in their infantile despondency have started vandalising UPP posters and billboards while desperately attempting to mop up Osita Chidoka-branded flyers, hand bills, brochures and our other campaign materials.

“We want the world to know that early on Thursday morning, agents of Anambra State Government, accompanied by heavily armed policemen, tore down UPP billboard in Onitsha South Local Government Area, which is one of our major strongholds. They were also seen in other locations vandalising our campaign materials in their childish attempt to remove us from public presence.

“This immature and degrading act was preceded by verbal attacks on Chief Chidoka and the UPP by APGA factional National Chairman, Chief Victor Oye, thus betraying their fears for the contest with Chief Chidoka as our flagbearer, and showing the world that they are a drowning bunch merely clutching at a straw.

“Governor Obiano and APGA should not get jittery yet. Perhaps they do not know that we are very much aware of their failed clandestine machinations to derail the UPP primary and scuttle the emergence of Chief Chidoka as the candidate. At the right time, when the people march, we will bare it all.

“Today, all eyes are on Anambra as we march towards the November 18, 2017 governorship election. All discerning minds know that Osita Chidoka and the UPP are the major fear confronting Governor Obiano and his APGA. We know that this election is a straight contest; indeed a two horse race between Osita Chidoka and Governor Willie Obiano.

“Governor Obiano and his APGA know that the other parties; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), have no place in Anambra regarding this election. That is why the embattled governor and his enfeebled and destabilised party have been shadowing our campaign and even trying to copy our ideas and strategies.

“However, our response to them is that they are fighting a lost battle. While they were busy, with reckless abandon, squandering the goodwill of the people through their imprudent government, Osita Chidoka and the UPP were working hard, mobilising the people for the ultimate mission of reclaiming their state.

“On this, we have gone very far and not even the vandalising of our billboards and other campaign materials can stop us now, neither can it erase the consciousness that is already with the people or redeem Governor Obiano and APGA from the shame of rejection by ndi Anambra.”