SaharaReporters has learned that Ikenga Ugochinyere, the Peoples Democratic Party member behind a well coordinated attempt to derail the registration of the newly formed “All Progressives Congress” party is well known for handling dirty political jobs for cash. A lawyer, Samuel Chinedu, has named Mr. Ugochinyere as the man who paid him to file papers for the registration of a party that seeks to usurp the APC acronym. SaharaReporters has determined that Mr. Ugochinyere’s spoiler move came after a coalition of political parties had announced their merger under the umbrella of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
A top PDP official confirmed to SaharaReporters that Mr. Ugochinyere remains a card-carrying member of the PDP. This has fueled accusations that the controversial man is on a mercenary mission. “He is a mere stooge behind a phantom political organization that is seeking to hijack the acronym APC,” said a lawyer who works for All Progressive Congress. “His whole purpose is to forestall the adoption of APC as the name for our coalition,” he added. All Progressive Congress recently disclosed that their merger was meant to dislodge the PDP in the 2015 elections.
“Ikenga is well known for acting as a stooge of anybody with cash to pay,” said a source within the PDP.
Ikenga Ugochinyere in pay-toplay press concference against Bamanga Tukur
Ikenga Ugochinyere leading a PDP rally in Imo state
In June 2010, Mr. Ugochinyere had gone to court in order to scuttle Okwesilieze Nwodo’s bid to become the national chairman of the PDP. In March 2012, when a number of PDP interests were at odds with Bamanga Tukur, the young lawyer, who refers to himself as Ikenga, again went to court seeking Mr. Tukur’s disqualification from the party’s chairmanship. In addition, Mr. Ugochinyere threatened to mobilize protesters against Mr. Tukur.
One of Mr. Ugochinyere’s most notorious roles was to serve as the leader of a group hired by former Governor Ohakim of Imo State to stage demonstrations protesting the removal of Maurice Iwu, the former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Acting in the name of a shadowy group called Alliance for the Defense of Democracy (ADD), Mr. Ugochinyere sued to compel the government to retain Mr. Iwu, who had set scandalous records as a rigger of elections in favor of candidates of the PDP. In addition to filing a pro-Iwu lawsuit, Mr. Ugochinyere also said he had galvanized 15 million youths to support Mr. Iwu.
Two sources who know “Ikenga” personally told SaharaReporters that Mr. Ugochinyere has a capacity for sniffing out opportunities to create confusion as well as determining who can pay him the most. The sources said he loves to live a flamboyant lifestyle from the proceeds of his activities, with one source adding that Mr. Ugochinyere’s legal practice was virtually non-existent.
“Once he collects money, he jets abroad,” said one source. Indeed, Mr. Ugochinyere’s Facebook account contains photos of numerous travels to different tourist destinations around the world. He also appears to flaunt his several automobiles.
Yesterday, Mr. Ugochinyere hurriedly launched his political association that he is pushing to register in order to snatch the APC acronym from the All Progressive Congress. The launching took place at a fancy location in Abuja that is Mr. Ugochinyere’s ostensible headquarters.
Earlier today, some leaders of Mr. Ugochinyere’s party circulated a press statement alleging that some gunmen were trailing them.
Ikenga Ugochinyere
Ikenga Ugochinyere
Ikenga Ugochinyere with former governor of Imo state, Ikedi Ohakim
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