Uzodinma in governorship race to enjoy immunity from criminal trials - Okorocha

Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2019 election in the state, Senator Hope Uzodinma, of seeking the position to enjoy immunity from criminal trials he is already facing.

He made this claim in reaction to the lawmaker's allegation that his recent arrest was sponsored by him to put him in public disrepute.

In a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, Okorocha said, "His idea is that once he becomes governor, he would be leveraging the immunity provision to evade these trials."

He also accused the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, of supporting Uzodinma against his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu.

"This is the man Oshiomhole wants to govern Imo people. If Oshiomhole had asked questions, and if he was keen on APC's victory in Imo, he would not have gone into any deal with Chief Uzodinma," he said.

The governor explained that the APC flagbearer was facing two trials prior to his arrest by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for Recovery of Public Property.

He said, "Uzodinma is facing trial over issuance of a dud cheque, and the trial Judge, Justice Abdulwahab Muhammed was reported to have referred the case to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation.

"He is also on trial over non-declaration of assets, and the case is before Justice Babatunde Quadiri of the Federal High Court Abuja."

Okorocha further urged Uzodinma to withdraw from the race and focus on proving his innocence against all the allegations against him.

"Chief Uzodinma should be advised to withdraw from the race and also quit politics to enable him to face these trials, and he can come back to politics if at the end of the trials he is not found," he said.

Nwosu boasts he'll be announced APC's Imo governorship candidate

Meanwhile, the governor's preferred candidate, Nwosu, has boasted that he will announced as APC's Imo governoship candidate not Uzodinma.

While addressing his supporters on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, in Owerri, Nwosu said he's the party's rightful candidate and that court will deliver judgment in his favour.

The former Chief of Staff to governor Okorocha also debunked the rumours making rounds that he has concluded plans to dump the APC for another party in order to fulfill his governorship ambition.