Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) and Austin Akobundu (Abia Central) have denied any involvement in a purported coalition arrangement linked to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abia State, distancing themselves from claims that they endorsed Deacon Iyke Nwoke as Interim Chairman of the party.
The clarification follows reports emerging from an enlarged ADC stakeholders’ meeting held in Umuahia over the weekend, during which a communiqué was released listing both lawmakers as supporters of the party's coalition efforts in the state.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Senator Akobundu’s media aide, Jude Ndukwe, dismissed the claim as false and politically mischievous, insisting that the lawmaker had no knowledge of the communiqué and never appended his signature endorsing any ADC leadership.
“Our attention has been drawn to a report circulating in a section of the media claiming that Senator Austin Akobundu endorsed Deacon Iyke Nwoke as Chairman of the ADC, Abia State Chapter. This is entirely untrue and a desperate attempt by certain elements to mislead the public,” the statement read.
“As a serving PDP Senator, there is no way Senator Akobundu would involve himself in the internal affairs of another political party, let alone endorse its leadership.
"Those peddling falsehood in a bid to exploit his name and goodwill for political validation must desist immediately,” Ndukwe added.
Similarly, Uchenna Awom, spokesperson for Senator Abaribe, dismissed the report in a brief comment to reporters, saying simply, “It’s not true.”
The contentious communiqué, reportedly signed by various ADC stakeholders—including the party’s 2023 governorship candidate in Abia, Bishop Sunday Onuoha—had listed both Abaribe and Akobundu among those said to be in support of the meeting’s resolutions and leadership changes.
The two senators have now firmly disassociated themselves from the coalition, insisting they remain committed to their current political affiliations and had no role in any ADC arrangements.
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