The Nigeria Police has reacted to report making the rounds that it declared the Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mao Ohuabunwa wanted.
SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, the Police Public Relations Officer in Abia, said that the state command was not in possession of any gazette declaring Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa wanted.
“Here at the state command, we do not have any such record or gazette from the Force Headquarters showing that he (Ohuabunwa) was declared wanted,” Ogbonna said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia on Monday.
The PPRO spoke against the backdrop of a statement issued in Umuahia by Ohuabunwa, dispelling the “rumour” that he was declared wanted by the police, in connection with alleged electoral malpractice during the National Assembly polls in Abia.
In the statement signed by Mr Uche Okoli, his Media Aide, the lawmaker described the rumour as “unfounded and ridiculous.”
Ohuabunwa, therefore, urged members of the public to ignore the rumour.
According to him, it was a propaganda tool deployed by his political opponents in the aftermath of the Feb. 23 polls in the state.
He said: “My attention has been drawn to the rumour and blatant lie that the police declared me wanted, in connection with electoral malpractice.
“It is on record that all through my political life, I have never been associated with, and will never be involved in any form of electoral malpractices, knowing the consequences, both as a seasoned lawmaker and a patriotic citizen.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I was never arrested and as a law-abiding citizen, I will at anytime honour any invitation by the police,” he stated.
“There is no iota of truth in the rumour,” he further stated, adding that it emanated from his political opponents and designed to smear his image.
“Those behind the rumour want to use it as a smokescreen to divert attention from their obvious connivance in the breach of the electoral Act during the polls.”
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