Abia CAN denies endorsing ADC candidate, Bishop Onuoha

*Threatens action against peddler

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Abia State chapter, has vehemently denied media reports that the body ever endorsed the State governorship candidate of Africa Democratic Congress (ADC), Bishop Sunday Onuoha.

The leadership of Abia CAN which described the publication as not only misleading but false and unfounded; sternly warned the author, one Uduma Nnate, to immediately retract the offending report or have the group to contend with. Abia CAN also urged the public to disregard the publication.

News broke out Thursday that Abia CAN has endorsed the ADC candidate, Bishop Sunday Onuoha, as its consensus governorship candidate for the March 11, 2023 guber contest.

According to the publication, CAN’s adoption of Bishop Onuoha was made after the ADC candidate addressed the Christian organisation’s leaders at their consultation meeting held at Umuahia.

Part of the publication further read: “Bishop Onuoha, who was grilled for over an hour by the CAN local government coordinators and state officers, took time to satisfactorily answer every question and gave every assurance of participatory governance, godly and righteous leadership to change the narrative of Abia.

“Speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of CAN, Abia State, Apostle General Emmanuel Agomoh, urged the CAN leaders to take the message down to their local government areas and communities.

“Bishop Sunday Onuoha thanked the Christian body for the reception and his adoption, promising never to let the Church down.”

But in a swift reaction, CAN denied ever endorsing Bishop Onuoha, saying that the publication was concocted by Nnate, a member of the media crew of the ADC Governorship Candidate.

A statement endorsed by the Abia CAN Chairman, Apostle Dr. Emmanuel Agomoh, and the Secretary, Engr. Dr. Okechukwu Mgbeahuru, noted that endorsement and or adoption of any candidate must be done in a general assembly of CAN and by all the organs of the group. CAN, therefore, unreservedly refuted the publication, while warning of dire consequences if Nnate did not retract the said report.

The statement reads: “Consequent upon the publication in the News/Print/Social media by one Mr. Uduma Nnate, a media crew member of Bishop Dr. Sunday Ndukwo Onuoha, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Governorship candidate in Abia State, about a purported “endorsement” of the ADC Governorship Candidate by the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Abia State Chapter. 

“We hereby state without contradiction, that the publication made by Mr. Uduma Nnate is not only misleading but false and unfounded.

“For the records, endorsement and or adoption of any candidate cannot be made in parts but in a general assembly of CAN, comprising of Church Leaders, Bloc Leaders, Bloc delegates, Local Government Statutory delegates, Youth and Women’s Wings delegates.

“We, therefore, without reservation, refute the misleading publication of Mr. Uduma Nnate on behalf of CAN, Abia State, hence, should be disregarded.

“In the foregoing therefore, Mr. Uduma Nnate is advised, in his own interest, to retract the false publication or Christian Association of Nigeria, Abia State Chapter, may be forced to take necessary action.”

Recall that in late October last year, Abia CAN raised a seven-man

panel known as “The Abia State 2023 Governorship Candidates Interface Organizing Committee” to conduct its modified debate for the 18 governorship candidates in the state, of which Bishop Ohuoha is one and had appeared before the Committee.

However, the issue of the Bishop being endorsed by CAN cropped up when he, last Thursday, met with the Local government coordinators of CAN, which, according to authorities of the body, has no such powers. 

“I did not endorse him (Onuoha),” Abia CAN Chairman, Apostle Agomoh, told The Oracle Today in a brief telephone interaction Saturday afternoon.