Apostle Ngozika Gladys Johnson-Ogbuneke, the Social Democratic Party’s candidate for governor of Abia State, has vowed she will not withdraw from the race in favour of a candidate from a different political party.
She made these comments in a statement that was published on Wednesday in response to widespread rumours that she had allegedly withdrawn from the state governorship election that the Independent National Electoral Commission had set for March 18, 2023.
She was especially concerned about the alleged covert effort by the state’s Labour Party candidate for governor, Alex Otti, to bribe and seduce her into withdrawing from the race in order to ensure his victory.
According to the SDP candidate, “for the benefit of those praise-worshipping Dr Alex Otti, I think the time has come for people to really know this man for who he is. To know all those claiming that I, Apostle Dr Ngozika Gladys Johnson-Ogbuneke, has stepped down for them, they are all liars.
“Starting with Dr Alex Otti he has sent persons directly to me, to bribe me to step down and I refused, telling them that I came to run this race to the very end for the Abia youths, for the Abia women who have been marginalized for over 31 years and for the Abia girl-children whose potentials are not recognized”.
Johnson-Ogbuneke warned Otti; the African Democratic Congress, ADC, governorship candidate, Bishop Sunday Onuoha; and that of Action Peoples Party, APP, Mascot Uzor-Kalu; to refrain from spreading lies against her and focus on their campaigns.
“Daily, I am praying for a fair election and peaceful election in Abia State. If they continue to issue such lies against my candidacy,” she said.
“I shall take them up for harassment. I stand as the voice of all Abia women, the youths and the girl-children.
“If they love Abia state, I challenge them to do like Zaccheus (Luke19:1-13) and return to Abia State treasuries all the looted monies that they have taken out.
“Let the people of Abia state see them truly for who they are. Your ugly propaganda cannot work, be stuffed with your dirty ill-gotten wealth.
“Ngozi Abia will not step down for no one. Abia State shall be greatly built up indeed in Yeshua’s might name. Amen”.