The Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has described the senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Imo West, Jones Onyeriri as “too small” to run against him.
Recall that Okorocha was declared winner of the senatorial seat by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), beating Onyeriri to the second position.
However, the INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Innocent Ibeawuchi later came out to declare that he announced Okorocha as winner under duress.
Onyeriri, a serving member of the House of Representatives, has called on INEC to declare him the rightful winner of the election, a call Okorocha disagreed with.
In a statement through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, the governor said, “The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the Imo West Senatorial District election, Jones Onyereri, is too small by all standards and in all ramifications to stand or contest election against Governor Rochas Okorocha.
“In other parts of the country, Onyereri would not have contemplated contesting the senatorial election the moment he heard or knew that Owelle Okorocha was in the race.
“But in this part of the nation, anything goes. People have no respect for their superiors, especially when they can afford to buy Land Cruiser Jeep with tinted glasses and two mobile policemen in front of the car.
“On what grounds would Onyeriri challenge Okorocha in an election, to the extent of claiming victory? Who was Jones Onyeriri before his entry into politics and who is he today?
“Beyond politics, what other claims can he make in this life? He has the audacity to be challenging a man who has made his marks in every aspect of life long before venturing into politics.
“Okorocha had run for the Presidency of this country two times – in 2003 and 2007. Who had heard about Jones Onyeriri during these periods? Even as a House of Representatives member, what has he done that Orlu zone people would now choose him above Governor Okorocha?”