The Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election committee for Imo State, Hon Henry Idahagbon, has revealed how the actions of the Chairman, Ahmed Gulak, nearly cost them their lives.
He said that Gulak announced the results of the election without their knowledge.
The secretary said that but for the timely intervention of the state governor, Rochas Okorocha, who took them into the government house for protection, they would have been telling a different story.
Idahagbon, told Daily Trust correspondent on telephone, insisted that they were not privy to Gulak’s plan to announce one of the aspirants, Senator Hope Uzodinma, as winner of the primary election.
Idahagbon described Gulak’s action as embarrassing and unbecoming of a man of his position in the society.
He also dismissed the kidnap claim by Gulak, stating that that there was no attempt to kidnap any member of the Committee at any time.
According to him, “Members of the Committee were not under any form of threat or intimidation in Imo State, the claim by Gulak was not only false but demeaning, embarrassing and unbecoming of a man of his status, most especially as a trained Lawyer, who should have known the weight of his allegation.”
He said that members of the committee were shocked over the action of the chairman, who absconded without their knowledge and went to Abuja to announce results when the primary election was not held.
He said, “I was with Gulak in his hotel room 701 at the Rockview Hotel until 1am, when I went to my room, there was no inkling that he was going to escape. I am surprised that a lawyer like him could joke with such serious allegation like kidnapping. But let me make it known that we were not under any form of threat or intimidation at any time in Imo State.
“What happened was in the morning, I went to knock at Gulak’s room and
there was no response, I went to the room of another member of the Committee to look for him but he was not there. We all started looking
for him to no avail before we learnt from the porters that he has left the hotel. For the records, we there was no attempt to kidnap any member of the committee.
“After we couldn’t see him, we went down to take our breakfast. It was
at that point that another member whispered to me that Gulak has
escaped from the hotel and from Owerri. He said that I should get my
own bag so that we can escape also. I found thatl unconscionable for me
to escape and endanger the lives of other members of the Committee.
“I went up and called other members. I got a call from a man I don’t want to name but if they push me to the wall, I will do that. He said I should pick my bag together with other members of the committee and depart from the hotel room.
“Two policemen came and said secretary you have to leave there is threat and I said no that I have to make consultations. While we were
having that conversation the governor came to the hotel and told us that Gulak has absconded to Abuja to announce fake results.”
