Enugu PDP chieftain Okwu Nnabuike rejects Labour Party’s Vin Martins Ilo

Okwu Nnabuike Emmanuel, a PDP member in Enugu State, has described as embarrassing and unacceptable the inclusion of his name as a signatory to the form submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, by Mr. Vin Martins Ilo, a factional Labour Party House of Representatives candidate for the Awgu-Oji River-Aninri Federal Constituency.

Okwu was listed as a signatory on Ilo’s INEC form EC13D, which he submitted to the INEC and filed before a Federal High Court in Enugu. Their signatures were a collection of initials.

Okwu, who was outraged by the development, described it as a high-level forgery.

He expressed surprise because he had not been consulted by Ilo or any other member of the Labour Party.

“It’s strange that my name appears in such a document,” he said. I am not and have never been a member of the Labour Party. This is why I find Vin Martins Ilo’s use of my name for such a heinous crime strange, criminal, and inexcusable.

“Since that document became public, I’ve been inundated with calls from family and friends.” It was an embarrassing experience for me. I’m not even aware Ilo is a Labour Party member, let alone signing any paperwork on his behalf. I know he’s in court for the APC ticket in the same constituency, but I’m curious how he’s also in court for the Labour Party ticket.”

Okwu stated that he would not remain silent on the issue, vowing to hold Ilo accountable for the alleged forgery.

“The law on perjury is clear, and it will apply in this case; I will also pursue the civil aspect of it because my integrity has been called into question,” he expressed regret.

He urged people to ignore what he called “a deliberate act of mischief by Ilo and his collaborators.”

Ilo had not responded to an inquiry as of the time of filing this report.