Ukoha Igwe Denies Urging INEC To Blacklist MOUAU Lecturers Over Alleged Romance With Sen. Kalu

One Ukoha Aladdin Igwe has denied endorsing a press release by a group, Concerned Abia-North Patriots (CANP) calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to blacklist lecturers of Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and bar them from election duties over alleged romance with Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.

He was reacting to an online publication credited to one Steve Okoh, the publisher/C.E.O ,WaWa News global in which he, Ukoha Igwe was listed as the secretary of CANP and a signatory to the controversial press release.

In a statement on Saturday, Mr. Igwe while insisting that he never endorsed the statement nor consulted before it was released said he has received threat messages and calls to its effect.

He said, “This publication states that I Mr Aladdin Ukoha is a member of a group called the Concerned Abia-North Patriots (CANP) and that I signed as the secretary of the aforementioned group in a press conference asking INEC to blacklist MOUAU ( Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture,Umudike) staffs from every work that concerns election in 2023 over romance with Senator Orji Uzor Kalu

“Irrespective of threat calls and text messages that I have received since today the 3rd day of September 2022, I want to say that I am not afraid of any threat that has come or still to come,but I want to state categorically clear here that I AM NOT A MEMBER OF THE CONCERNED ABIA NORTH PATRIOTS (CANP) AND DID NOT SIGN ANY PRESS RELEASE OR DOCUMENT ASKING INEC TO BLACKLIST THE MOUAU STAFFS FROM 2023 ELECTION WORK OVER ROMANCE WITH SENATOR ORJI UZOR KALU.”

He therefore threatened the take legal action against the publisher of the news if he does not take down the said post and tender an apology within 24 hours of this statement.

“And I have asked the publisher to within 24hrs retrieve this said information that has gone viral just the way it went out with an apology or face a legal action from my angle.

“I want to also use this medium to say to all those that have threatened fire and brimstone in relation to this publication that I am not writing this disclaimer as a result of the threats they have issued via phone and messages to my loved ones but because the truth is that I didn’t sign any press release or document and was neither consulted nor intimated over this document or press release and so I deserve an apology and the message retrieved or I will do the needful.”

Lecturers of the university were recently reported to have visited the home of Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North in Igbere, Bende local government area where they urged him to add his voice to the lingering ASUU strike so that an amicable revolution can be reached, complaining of the effect of no-work, no-pay policy of the federal government on them.

Sen. Kalu, a former Abia governor after listening to the plight of the lecturers had made available some relief items to cushion the effects of the difficulty economic policy on them, a reason for which they have been accused of “romancing” with the lawmaker.