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ABIA — The media team of Labour Party candidate for Bende Federal Constituency, Dr. Chima Desmond Anyaso, has rejected allegations contained in a video circulated by one Sunday Onuoha, popularly known as “Abacha,” describing the claims as unsubstantiated and politically motivated.
In an official disclaimer issued by the media team, it said the video was part of what it described as an attempt to blackmail and damage the reputation of Anyaso because of political differences ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The team specifically disputed the impression created by the video that Onuoha had a direct working relationship with Anyaso, explaining that he was reportedly engaged as a driver for one of the vehicles used by members of Anyaso’s team.
“He was not Dr. Chima Anyaso’s personal driver and did not have a direct working relationship with him,” the statement said, insisting that portraying the individual as someone who had direct dealings with Anyaso was misleading.
The media team also challenged the allegation that Anyaso personally made promises of “heaven on earth” to Onuoha, demanding verifiable evidence to substantiate the claim.
It asked: “What is the evidence? Where is the direct communication? Where is the agreement? Where is the proof that such a promise was made by Dr. Chima Anyaso himself?”
According to the statement, political competition should not be allowed to degenerate into personal attacks, blackmail or the circulation of unverified allegations against political opponents.
The team alleged that the development represented “a disturbing manifestation of the politics of bitterness,” involving what it described as the manufacture of controversies and the use of social media to promote unverified accusations.
“Political competition is legitimate; political blackmail is not,” the statement declared, urging political opponents to focus on presenting their candidates, achievements and policy proposals to the electorate rather than attacking the character of rival aspirants.
The Anyaso media team further challenged anyone alleging that its principal had personally defrauded, deceived, cheated, threatened or deliberately dishonoured them to produce verifiable evidence through appropriate channels.
It maintained that Anyaso had a record of supporting individuals, empowering communities and contributing to development in Bende even without holding public office, arguing that his record should be assessed on the basis of evidence rather than what it termed politically motivated propaganda.
“The people of Bende are discerning,” the team said, adding that voters could distinguish between genuine accountability and what it described as politically sponsored character assassination.
The statement also issued a warning to Onuoha and anyone allegedly involved in the circulation, sponsorship or promotion of the allegations, demanding an immediate halt to what it described as false, misleading or defamatory claims against Anyaso.
It, however, invited anyone with evidence to substantiate the allegations to present such evidence through appropriate channels.
The team equally directed its message at individuals it alleged could be sponsoring the campaign, urging them to concentrate on selling the credentials, achievements and vision of their preferred candidates to the people of Bende.
“If your preferred candidate is credible, campaign for him. If he has achievements, showcase them. If he has a better vision for Bende, sell that vision to the people,” the statement said.
It stressed that electoral competition should be based on issues, performance and competing visions for the constituency rather than blackmail, propaganda or character assassination.
The media team said Anyaso would not be intimidated by what it described as “politics of bitterness,” assuring that it would continue to respond to allegations with facts, evidence and recourse to the law.
“This is not a threat. It is a clear legal and public notice: enough of the blackmail, enough of the falsehood, and enough of using politics as an excuse to attack innocent people,” the statement concluded.
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