Ask Us Directly, Stop Wasting Money — Anyaso Campaign Tells Kalu Over INEC Document Request

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ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Chima Anyaso Campaign Organisation has challenged Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, to approach the campaign directly for information about the Labour Party’s Bende Federal Constituency candidate, Dr. Chimaobi Desmond Anyaso, rather than spending money engaging lawyers and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to obtain publicly available records.

The campaign’s position followed a recent application by a lawyer to INEC seeking Certified True Copies of documents allegedly submitted by Anyaso in connection with his political activities.

The documents reportedly relate to Anyaso’s candidacy as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Bende Federal Constituency in the 2019 election and his emergence as the Young Progressive Party (YPP) Deputy Governorship Candidate in the 2023 Abia State election.

In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Promise Uzoma Okoro, ANIPR, the campaign acknowledged the right of any citizen to request public records but questioned the necessity of employing lawyers to obtain information it said could easily be obtained directly from the candidate or his campaign.

“Dear Deputy Speaker, you do not need to hire lawyers or write to INEC for information you can get by asking me directly. I would have provided it,” the campaign stated.

The organisation insisted that there was nothing concealed about the identity or political history of Anyaso, who it said was preparing to defeat Kalu and represent Bende Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives in 2027.

According to the campaign, Anyaso has consistently borne the same name from birth and possesses personal, educational, professional and official records capable of establishing his identity.

“He has classmates from primary school, secondary school and university. He has associates, friends and official records, and people who have known him for decades who can attest to his identity. His name has remained Chimaobi Desmond Anyaso. Nothing has changed, nothing has been added,” the statement said.

The campaign consequently advised Kalu that where genuine legal or documentary questions existed, a direct approach would be a quicker and less expensive means of obtaining clarification.

It argued that resources being expended on lawyers and applications to INEC could instead be deployed towards addressing what it described as “failed projects” and other development concerns in Bende.

“The 2027 contest is about ideas, competence, development and representation, not an endless search for a technicality where none exists,” the organisation declared.

The campaign further dismissed any suggestion that a review of Anyaso’s records would uncover information capable of undermining his candidacy.

It said the Labour Party candidate was open to legitimate scrutiny and had no reason to conceal his identity or public record.

“The Labour Party candidate has nothing to hide. His identity is not a mystery and his records are available for legitimate scrutiny,” it stated.

The campaign also claimed that voters across Bende had already resolved to support the Labour Party in the 2027 election, while urging the Deputy Speaker to concentrate on issues of development and representation rather than what it described as attempts to “manufacture controversies.”

The latest exchange adds another dimension to what is shaping up to be a closely watched political contest in Bende Federal Constituency, where Anyaso is seeking to unseat the incumbent Deputy Speaker.

With 2027 approaching, the emerging battle is increasingly being framed by the rival camps around questions of performance, development, accountability, political records and the quality of representation Bende deserves.

For the Anyaso campaign, the message to Kalu is unequivocal: if there are questions about the candidate, ask directly — and let the real contest be decided on ideas, competence and the record of service to Bende.

StreetReporters.ng

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