By; SAMSON YAKI, Lafia
Embattled Chairman of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Nasarawa State, Bishop Mathew Namo has been accused of taking bribe to illegally substitute a candidate’s name.
John Mark whose name is now missing in INEC’s final list made the allegations in a statement on Wednesday, pointing out that the chairman was bribed with N3.5 million by Senator Godiya Akwashiki to substitute his name as the party’s candidate for Akwanga/Nasarawa Eggon/Wamba Federal Constituency in the 2023 general elections.
“I was shortchanged with a different person, named Andrew Grace Tuga for N3.5 million,” Mark who vowed to take legal action against the party alleged.
“I have it on good authority that, the suspended state chairman, Bishop Mathew Namo was bribed with the sum of N3,500,000.00 (Three Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) only by the senator representing Nasarawa North district, Senator Godiya Akwashiki to substitute my name.
“This was the submission given by Nasarawa State YPP Executives. The submission was given at the party secretariat when I reported the issue to the national body in the presence of the National Party Chairman, Party General Secretary, Deputy National Secretary, National Organizing Secretary and National Party Treasurer.
“My lawyer has written a petition against the suspended state Chairman on the request of the National hairman of YPP with high enthusiasm to arrest and resolve the issue but upon receiving the petition, the countenance of the national chairman changed, then he stopped picking my calls. He, that’s the national chairman in person of Bishop Amakiri told me that, ‘I’m not INEC’ that they’ve written and INEC said they can’t change the name again. But of course, we all know that this is criminal. How on earth will a fake document be submitted to INEC? This is against the 2022 Electoral Act.
“If the party wants to do the right thing today, the name can be amended and the injustice will be corrected. The national chairman is refusing to take responsibility as a leader. That what happened was between me and the suspended chairman. He should know that YPP is a legal entity and whatever infraction caused by his subordinate, the national body takes the responsibility directly or indirectly. Please the National Chairman should google the case of Salamon v. Salamon 1897. The party should be well guided and well informed. I’m indeed disappointed in the leadership of the party.
“Also, my lawyer has again written to the office of the DIG Criminal Investigation Department for the criminal aspect of the case but the suspect Bishop Mathew Namo is at run. As at yesterday, he was invited to Abuja but he called that he traveled to Ogoni Land meanwhile he is in Lafia. He is just buying time and delaying the evil day. All these crime took place between the suspect and his younger brother in person of Mathew Ablaku Hosea. It was his account that was used for the transaction.
“The question here is “what have I done to Godiya Akwashiki that I will be receiving all these”. I’m not aspiring for Senate; I’m contesting for House of Reps. Let nobody think that the permutation of 2019 will play itself again. I’m just an innocent young man that is projected to win the election.
“Finally, my team of lawyers are preparing all the necessary documents to go to court and seek redress for it is within my ambit of my fundamental human right.
“Above all, I’m using this medium to call on good spirited Nigerians especially in the Constituency and Nasarawa State at large to rise up and fight this case. This is complete hallmark of injustice melted against me. Injury to one is injury to all. I believe that he that is with God is with the majority. This is your case, Nigerians, that will surely go a long way to advance our legal jurisprudence,” the statement reads.
Mark had won the party’s primary election held on June 03, 2022 and was presented with certificate.
