Gov. Umahi Debunks Purchasing Two Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms

The governor of Ebonyi State,  David Umahi, has said he did not purchase and file two nomination and expression of interest forms of the ruling All Progressive Congress simultaneously.

He stated this Monday while clarifying his Senate ambitions after losing the party’s presidential primary contest in May.

“The business of a political party is the business of a political party; you can have 20 or 30 forms,” said Governor Umahi, who did not deny he contested the primary for the APC presidential ticket during his appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

“When the primary had ended, the matter was closed. I now came on June 9 and bought a form to contest (the senatorial ticket); I was never holding two forms of a political party at the same time.”

The governor was one of many people who purchased the APC’s $100 million presidential nomination and expression of interest forms.

The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, were among others who also chose the forms.

Reports that Governor Umahi had bought the APC nomination and expression of interest forms for the Ebonyi South senatorial seat surfaced after a party chieftain, Bola Tinubu, won the primary.

He emphasised that the presidential primary had ended long before he entered the senatorial contest, despite the contention that the Electoral Act does not permit the simultaneous purchase of such forms.

“The APC presidential election ended on May 7, and by then, there were no more aspirants,” the governor said. “The time to appeal the decision of that convention had passed, and so, the presidential (primary) election had been concluded.

“30 days (later), the party’s candidate withdrew … I bought my form on June 9; so, there was no time I had two forms at the same time.”