The governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State, Professor Greg Ibe, has further debunked what he described as a false online publication alleging that he stepped down from his governorship race.
In a letter dated March 17, 2023, Prof Ibe, through his lawyer, Okorie, Nwokorie and Co. advised the publisher of ‘Famousreporters.com’, that published the story to immediately pull down the false and malicious story with an apology or face litigation.
The letter reads; “Take note therefore that you are given on or before close of business today, being Friday, March 17, 2023 to retract this false publication in two national newspapers and on all online platforms where you published the said defamatory statements against our clients with a written apology to our clients, failing which we shall institute a legal against you”.
Mr Udo Okezie, Esq, who signed the letter on behalf of Ibe and APGA further stated that; “Prof Ibe is still in the governorship race hold tomorrow – March 18, 2023 and have not withdrawn from the race, neither did the party nor it’s governorship candidate, Prof Ibe make any statement and or signed any Press briefing or document stating that the party and its candidate for the governorship race has withdrawn from the election slated to hold on Saturday, March 18, 2023, or collapsed its structure to any political party or candidate in Abia State, including Mascot Orji Kalu, the APP candidate in Abia State.
“You made a false publication with the aim and purpose of disparaging, ridiculing, and or damaging the character and goodwill of our clients”, Okezie said.
Earlier, the APGA flag bearer in a statement by the Director General of his Campaign Council, Dr Longman Nwachukwu, urged his supporters and members of the public to disregard the mischievous report.
Prof Ibe added he was fully in the governorship race with his running mate, Hon. Obinna Ichita, and could not have withdrawn for anybody.
He advised media practitioners against peddling false and unconfirmed stories especially during election season when some desperate politicians are ready to do anything to achieve their selfish interests.
Ibe, who described the report as a lie from the pit of hell, threatened legal action against the publishers of the fallacious report.
Excerpts from the statement stated:
“Famousreporters.com. is advised to immediately bring down the fake publication and subsequently publish and circulate widely an apology or be prepared to meet us in court for libel as our lawyers have been properly briefed.
“That the public should disregard the publication as a fabricated lie from the pit of hell and the hatchet job of a desperate pen pusher for little pecuniary benefits and should rather sustain their voiceferous, aggressive and massive support for Prof Ibe whose chiefest pursuit remains the liberation of Abia state from many years of under development, which Mascot Kalu and his family participated in and greatly benefitted from.”
