Publishers of Vanguard Newspapers have pulled down a post it published on its online platform few hours ago purportedly credited to the Abia State Chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that it had suspended it’s Abia-North Senatorial candidate and Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
According to the now deleted report, the news Authored by the newspaper reporter “Steve Oko” said that the party suspended the former Abia Governor over anti party activities. The news further mentioned executives of the party led by the party’s Disciplinary Committee Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Paul Nwabuisi appended their signatures to the letter dated 21st of February.
However, in a swift reaction the Party’s Spokesperson Chief Okey Ezeala dismissed the news and described the reports as the handiwork of the People’s Democratic Party.
According to a terse statement signed by Ezeala the party distanced itself from the report stating that there is no iota of truth in it, the party also described the report as false , identifying the the Vanguard Reporter “Steve Oko” as a paid agent of Kalu’s PDP opponent Mao Ohuabunwa.
Ezeala said that the malicious write up is occasioned by the PDP’s fright to accept tomorrow’s imminent defeat. According to the party Senator Orji Uzor Kalu remains the candidate of the party as both the party and his constituents are satisfied with his performance.
Further proving the report as false the Party, revealed that at no time did it issue any letter on February 21 as peddled by the paid reporter neither were the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Paul Nwabuisi; State Secretary, Chief Chidi Avajah, and the State Chairman, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu privy of such a letter.
On the allegation of anti-party activities and other offenses, the party labeled the accusations as entirely false , stating that Orji Kalu has always remained a committed member of the party and its progress.
The party’s Spokesperson added that there is no record of Orji Kalu campaigning against any its candidate nor has the Senate Chief Whip campaigned for any other political candidate besides those of the APC.
The party urged its party faithfuls and the general public to disregard the report and head to their various polling units to cast their votes 3/3 for APC tomorrow 25th February 2023 and 2/2 on the 11th of March 2023 respectively.
Barely two hours after publication Apparently, inundated with the Party’s statement debunking Kalu’s suspension the newspaper platform has since pulled down the fake news. Checks by this newspaper revealed that the Web link used to publish the story has been deactivated.
In his reaction, Kalu expressed his disappointment on the said publication to have emanated from Vanguard Newspapers which he said is often regarded as a reputable media platform.
Kalu noted that Vanguard’s reported news on his suspension from the APC without proper verification is highly unprofessional and embarrassing to the media house.
He wrote on his Facebook;
“I am not worried when politicians who have lost relevance resort to propaganda and blackmail. I am only worried when respected media houses become agents of mischief. It is for this kind of mischief that the federal government is emphasizing on media regulations. Vanguard’s reported news on my suspension from the APC is highly unprofessional and embarrassing to the media house.
“I understand that the opposition’s only strategy is propaganda but “Vanguard” accepting to be used for such news shows another height of ignorance. Constitutionally , it is only the NWC and NEC of a party that has the right to suspend a sitting Senator. Vanguard has publicly taken political positions and it’s a great shame to feed the public with lies.
Kalu, the Senate Chief Whip is scheduled to face reelection in tomorrow’s February 25th Senatorial elections on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
